Valenzuela exec's nephew chopped up

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay chairman’s nephew was killed and his body chopped up and scattered all over another barangay in Valenzuela City yesterday.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor identified the victim as Julius Caco, 30, a former village watchman and a nephew of Barangay Karuhatan chairman Nicomedes Caco.

Reports state that at around 10 p.m. Friday, the victim was last seen alive drinking with friends Ariel Domingo, Enrico Basilio and “Mang Joni” on Padrigal street in Barangay Karuhatan.

Investigators Senior Police Officer 2 Arnel Soriano and Police Officers 2 Josefino Pagtama and Michael Oxima said Caco’s group slaughtered and cooked a dog allegedly given by a certain “Pol,” then engaged in a drinking session that lasted several hours.

At around 1:45 a.m. yesterday, Caco’s hands and left thigh were found in a sack in front of the Arbor Town subdivision in Barangay Gen. T. de Leon by cabbie Roberto Leona, 35.

At around 2:45 a.m., Gen. T. de Leon watchmen found Caco’s torso and right leg in a sack along Angeles street in Fortune 1 subdivision.

About an hour later, the remaining parts of the victim’s body were found in a sack along Delupio street in Fortune Village 11 at the same barangay. Police said Caco’s head was kept in a plastic bag and put in a white sack.

Police believe someone with the skills of a butcher did the job “because the mutilated pieces were cut cleanly at the joints.” Investigators said the crime could not have been committed by just one man – at least two men may have killed and cut up the victim. Caco’s killers remain unidentified.

Police said witnesses said the victim liked to introduce himself as a police asset and cadge free food from wet market vendors for their drinking sessions.

Caco also allegedly demanded free food at bars and refused to pay his tab, witnesses said.      – With Pete Laude