Israeli national dies in sleep in hotel

CEBU, Philippines - An Israeli national died inside a hotel along Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City dawn yesterday.

Rony Fest, 53, a real-estate developer, was found dead on his bed by his companion, Cherrylou Ocampo, a medical transcriptionist, yesterday around 2am. 

Ocampo said they checked in last Saturday afternoon and visited historical sites in the city the whole day last Sunday. They went back to the hotel at 5pm. 

Ocampo said she reportedly went to bed ahead of Fest around 9pm, but was reportedly awakened by a loud thud around 2am.

When she turned to Fest’s side of the bed and tried to wake the man up, fest was no longer moving, prompting her to call the hotel’s emergency hotline. 

The hotel’s nurse, Hennie Montero, checked on Fest first, but immediately sought assistance from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) so that Fest could be brought to the hospital. Fest was declared dead at the Perpetual Succor Hospital.

Homicide investigator PO2 Lou Pagara said they only received information about the incident at 10:45 a.m. yesterday.

“Dugay man kun nagpahibaw ang mga hotel, una nilang gi-pahibaw ang Mabolo Police Station, human ang Tourist Police hangtod nga mi-abot sa homicide,” he said.

Pagara said no sign of struggle was seen inside the room. They, however, have to check Fest’s body to determine if there are signs of struggle or foul play.

“Wala man gud mi naka body search kay walay tawo kaganiha sa cosmopolitan,” he said.  

Fest’s remains will be subjected to an autopsy to determine the cause of his death. (FREEMAN)