‘Chop-chop’ body found in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The decapitated remains of a former call center agent wrapped with a trash bag and stuffed in a box was found in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday morning.

Police said the headless body of Mark Rey Abesamis, 32, was identified by his mother-in-law, Lerma Bote, at the Archangel Funeral Homes in Sta. Cruz.

The victim was discovered by Arnold Amorao, 37, a scavenger between Matimyas and Maceda streets at around 7 a.m. The victim’s legs were also missing, police said.

The box containing the body was wrapped with a masking tape and thrown under a tree.

When Amorao opened the box, he was shocked to see the body of a decapitated man clad in a green shirt and denim jeans.

Police investigators have yet to establish the motive behind the killing of the victim.

He had no known enemies, according to his relatives.

“He resigned from his job to start a business,” Bote said.

Prior to the discovery of his body, Abesamis told his wife, Thea, that he was going to meet his mother’s friend identified only as George in a mall in Fairview, Quezon City.

The victim was supposed to deliver a package for George sent by his mother from abroad. He left in a Toyota Altis with license plate NQY-611, according to his family.

His wife suspected that the two failed to meet because the package intended for George was found near the victim’s body.