Headless body found in Lapu-Lapu City

CEBU, Philippines - A headless body was found in a grassy area in Sitio Looc-Centro, Barangay Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday morning.

The body was later identified as that of Raymondo Garbo, around 50 years old, a vendor of feather dusters.

Police Officer 3 Joseph Rouel Cutanda, investigator of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office- Homicide Section said Garbo's body was found near his makeshift house.

A resident in the area, Apple Mae Anudling, told police that while she was on her way to a nearby bakeshop around 6 a.m., she noticed that the path she was walking on was smeared with blood.

At first, Anudling thought it was blood from a goat since there were goats on the left side of the road. But when she followed the blood trail and looked closer, she found the body of a man.

Anudling ran to her aunt whom she asked to contact the police.

Cutanda said they immediately went to the area and interviewed nearby residents where they got a lead about two persons possibly behind the death of Garbo.

The police followed their lead and invited 36-year-old Roldan Pangatungan, who lives in the area and his uncle Leonilo Pangatungan, 50, to the police station.

The two later admitted that they were behind the crime.

Roldan reportedly beheaded Garbo with a knife while Leonilo allegedly helped him, said Cutanda.

"Si Roldan Pangatungan, niangkon siya'y nagputol sa ulo. Wa siya nihatag og klarong rason ngano iyaha nabuhat ni kay nakainom kuno siya, hubog siya. Iyaha ra gihatag nako nga rason kay gidukol kuno siya (ni Garbo),"Cutanda added.

After the crime, Leonilo allegedly stole a pair of blue slippers and left his mud-stained shoes and blood-covered brown shorts in one of his neighbor's house.

Roldan also told the police that they placed Garbo's dismembered head in a black plastic bag and left it in a basketball court near his relative's house.

The victim's head was found around 11 a.m.

"Luyo ra sa ilahang basketball court, balay ra sa ilahang parente iyaha gihagbong. Naa'y murag open didto na drainage tank, di pa covered, didto niya gihulog. Siya ra pud nagtudlo," Cutanda said.

 "Nabuhat ganihang kaadlawon. Gikan man kuno ni sila nanisco. Paingon uli, gidukol kuno siya sa biktima," Cutanda added.

In a separate interview, Roldan said he cannot remember that he beheaded Garbo since he was heavily drunk.

"Wa raba ko kahibaw ana, (na)hubog ko. Wa ko kahinumdum," Roldan said, adding that he has no grudge against Garbo, but said that the latter speaks hurtful words.

For his part, Leonilo denied involvement in the crime.

 "Didto ra mi nagkita sa diskohan. Nya nakainom, mao to nga sige lang sayaw. Wa ko kalibotan diin ko naabot. Naabot ko ug Sitio Pasil (still in Barangay Marigondon), mao nang tsinelas na blue, wa man koy tsinelas. Nahabilin sa videokehan sa akong pag-umangkon, mao pagkabuntag akong gikuha. Wala ko'y nahinumduman, wala koy labot anang panghitaboa," he said.

Leonilo added that he only knew Garbo recently since the latter is not from their place and is a native of Consolacion town.

"Three months pa gapuyo, di man gyud siya taga diha mismo. Naa man tigbakay didto. Didto siya naghimo og ba-lay-balay kay ang mga balhibo sa manok iyaha mangtigumon. Kay ang biktima mamaligya og feather duster," Cutanda added.

The victim's body and head were submitted for autopsy. "(Ang) lawas sa biktima, wala man laing samad. Naa'y punctured iyaha mata. Right eye, mura’g gituslok," he said.

Cutanda said they received reports that the suspects were engaged in illegal drugs, but this has yet to be verified.

Cutanda said the suspects are now detained at the LCPO-holding cell and will be facing charges for murder. (FREEMAN)