Professor found dead in apartment

MANILA, Philippines – A university professor with a doctoral degree in public administration was found dead Tuesday night in his rented apartment in Camarin, North Caloocan.

Police identified the victim as Jose Calalung, 47, single, a native of Albano, Isabela and resident of Lancer Street, Brixtonville, Barangay 175.

Northern Police District-Scene of the Crime Operatives NPD-SOCO chief Superintendent Filemon Porciuncula said the victim sustained three stab wounds in the chest leading to his death. The victim also bore “defense wounds” in the arms, indicating he resisted the attack and tried to defend himself but failed.

Senior Superintendent Jude Santos, Caloocan City police chief, said Calalung appeared to be asleep when found inside his room at around 7:45 p.m., as the suspect “arranged” his body before escaping with the victim’s laptop and two cellphones.

Chief Investigator Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police station investigation chief, said there were no signs of forced entry or struggle at the crime scene, leading them to conclude that the suspect and the victim knew each other.

“The victim is a gay and was living alone but has a housekeeper, a certain Carlo of Tandang Sora in Quezon City. We are now trying to reach Carlo for he might know something about the incident,” Soriano said.

Initial investigations showed that an unnamed friend of Calalung allegedly came to visit him last Tuesday at around 7 p.m. and saw the victim lying on a foam mattress in the living room. The friend allegedly called out his name at the window but the victim lay motionless.

The friend, police said, called a neighbor for help and found Calalung already dead.

Contrary to initial reports, the victim was no longer connected with the University of Caloocan City Camarin Campus in North Caloocan.

UCC administrator Dr. Ederlinda Fiesta told The STAR that Calalung taught at the university only for a little over two years. She said the victim resigned after the first semester in 2008 and was reported to be teaching in a private school until his death.

Fiesta said Calalung had a doctorate in public administration from the Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao.

Soriano said they were also searching for Calalung’s “new friend” whom he met when he went home to Cagayan during the Lenten break.

The case is under further investigation.