Body of doctor kidnapped in Quezon City found in Laguna canal

LILIW, Laguna — A cadaver found floating in an irrigation canal here last week with a stab wound in his right eye was identified to be that of a kidnap-for-ransom victim.

The body, clad in white shirt and maong pants, was identified by relatives as that of Dr. Frederick Mendoza, 34, a doctor of the Calamba Medical Center in Calamba, Laguna and resident of Caloocan City.

Police sources here said Mendoza was found floating in an irrigation canal in Barangay Muhon this town in the afternoon of Nov. 21 with a stab wound in his right eye that pierced his skull.

Investigation showed that Mendoza and his girlfriend, identified as Mini Opillas, were abducted along the parking lot of SM Megamall in Quezon City on Nov. 20 by at least four armed men. They were forced to board an FX van, the sources said.

The abductors later dropped Opillas somewhere along Taft Avenue in Pasay City to allow the latter to raise ransom money, threatening to kill Mendoza if she revealed the incident to lawmen.

Opillas, however, informed the Western Police District and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), which immediately launched search and rescue operations, police here said.

The duo were scheduled to be married on Dec. 18, it was gathered. Sensing the tip-off to the police, the kidnappers decided to finish off the victim, police said.

Mendoza’s body now lies at the Ambassador Funeral Parlor in Caloocan City, the police sources here said.