ILOILO CITY, Philippines - A 23-year-old man was found dead late afternoon of Tuesday in Smallville Complex, a popular dining and entertainment center at Brgy. San Rafael in Mandurriao district of this city.
Police investigators believed the victim, identified as Mark Anthony Yunque, a resident of Brgy. Tabuc Suba in Jaro district, could have been dead for two to three days already.
A scavenger discovered the body after he reached the source of a foul odor at the grassy portion near the MO2 Annex, a vacant area that also serves as parking space for Smallville Complex goers.
Senior Insp. Rio Maymay, Mandurriao Police chief, said they could not determine yet the cause of Yunque’s death, until after the autopsy that was conducted yesterday. Superficially, the victim suffered two gaping holes on his head and another one on the side of his body, he said.
Initial investigation stated that the victim was last seen alive at around 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, when he reportedly left their house after a heated argument with his wife. He went to his father's house at Brgy. Cuartero in Jaro but left an hour later.
By past 10 p.m., another friend saw him at Jaro Plaza, and he even told this friend that he will go to Smallville Complex. An hour after, PO2 Al Revo, a member of the Mandurriao Police doing a roving patrol at Smallville Complex, saw Yunque going out of the MO2 Bar and Restaurant.
Apparently, the security guard refused entry to Yunque after he was mistaken as a minor due to his petite built. Revo then went to the guard and attested that the victim was of legal age. After a short talk with Yunque, Revo and his team left to respond to a police call.
As of yesterday, Maymay said the police already have leads on the possible suspects of Yunque’s killing. “We’re following a group but that’s all that we could give for now,” he said.