Florist stabbed dead, robbed at own shop

CEBU, Philippines - A florist was found dead with multiple stab wounds in his flower shop in Barangay Day-as, Cebu City yesterday morning. 

Police said there is reason to believe that Daniel “Jun” Cañete, 44, proprietor of JMC Wedding Creation, might have been robbed before he was killed as his laptop, three mobile phones, tablet and P250,000 cash were missing during ocular inspection.

SPO4 Alex Dacua said Cañete might have died about three hours prior because his body was already stiff when found.

Investigators PO1 Reuful Adalim and PO1 John Erick Samosa said two of Cañete’s employees found his dead body.

Hernane Timtim, 20, said he arrived at the shop past 6:00 a.m. but waited for Ivy Medalle, his fellow attendant. When the latter arrived, they knocked on the glass door but became suspicious when Cañete did not open the door. They said it would only take them one knock for the victim to respond.

They then decided to open the door forcibly and were shocked at the sight of Cañete’s body sprawled on the floor in his own blood, his intestines reportedly protruding from his stomach.

They immediately sought help from the building’s caretaker and called the police.

Cerafina Almiñe of the Department of Public Services who cleans the shop told the police that a man went to the shop at around 6 p.m. the night before while another man was sitting in front of the shop’s door at around 3 a.m.

Neighbors said they heard Cañete shouting at dawn yesterday but reportedly did not mind it thinking he was just arguing with someone.

Timtim and Medalle told The FREEMAN that they arranged flowers for three clients last Saturday and Cañete earned at least P30,000 from each.

A 16-year-old boy, reportedly Cañete’s former boyfriend who was invited for questioning yesterday, told the police that they broke up a year ago. He described Cañete as a very good person.

Reports have it that Cañete was in a relationship with a certain “Turko” but no one could identify the man.  

The finger prints retrieved from the crime scene will be forwarded to Camp Crame for verification with the Automated Fingerprint Identification System.

Cañete, a native of Pagadian City, was married with two sons.  (FREEMAN)