Miriam’s cousin found dead

ILOILO CITY — A first cousin of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was found dead with a bullet wound in the right temple in a cemetery in Jaro district here Monday afternoon.

Children playing inside the Christ the King Memorial Cemetery in Barangay Ungka 1 found Andy Cinco slumped dead beside his grandfather’s tomb. Police found his caliber .40 handgun nearby.

Probers said physical evidence indicates an apparent suicide, although Cinco’s body would be autopsied by the Philippine National Police crime laboratory.

Cinco’s mother, Rosalind Palma, is the younger sister of Dympna Palma, the mother of Santiago.

Cinco, who worked for the China Banking Corp., was married to Kathy Villalon, editor of Sun Star Iloilo Daily.

Archie de la Cruz, who worked for Cinco, said the latter "did not appear troubled." But before he left that day, Cinco left behind two suicide notes on the computer, some documents, and De la Cruz’ salary for the next five months. — Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag