Salvage victim is alleged cop killer

The pedicab driver who allegedly stabbed to death a Malacañang-assigned policeman during last Sunday's Tondo fiesta was established yesterday to be the dead man found rotting under the Vitas Bridge in Tondo with two tire rims tied to his legs to hold him deep in the murky creek.

Renato Custodio, who disappeared after the stabbing, was identified by his wife, Josie, as the bloated and decomposing naked body found Wednesday, four hours after several men were seen dumping what sounded like a heavy object into the creek. The men were reportedly riding a stainless jeep.

Custodio of Panday Pira, Tondo, was the suspect in the stabbing to death of Senior Police Officer 1 Aldrin Alora of the WPD Field Force, a Manila police unit that serves as security augmentation to the Presidential Security Group.

Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. assured the press of an investigation into the incident when told of the mysterious circumstances of the 31-year-old pedicab driver's death.

Custodio's wife went to the Sanctuary Funeral Homes in Sta. Cruz, Manila, yesterday after learning that the body of a man was discovered under the Vitas Bridge at around 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Investigators said Custodio would not have been found had it not been for Manila Bay's low tide at the time of the discovery of the body. The low tide revealed the head and shoulder of the man who appeared to be floating face up.

Investigation by the WPD homicide unit showed the body had bulging eyes and a protruding tongue, indicating that the victim may have died by strangulation. "We are checking all leads," said WPD homicide unit chief Senior Inspector Danny Salvacion.

Salvacion, however, refused to speculate if Custodio's death was a case of revenge or summary execution. --