Body found in torched car along C-3 Road

MANILA, Philippines - A vehicle found burning along C-3 Road in Caloocan City before dawn yesterday yielded a body that was charred beyond recognition.

Caloocan police investigation head Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano said they found a partially burned wallet in the victim’s pocket.

“A partly burned driver’s license bore the name of Levi Dulay, 45, of East Avenue, Caloocan City,” Soriano told The STAR.

He said there was also a burned cell phone that Ana Marie Dulay, who showed up at the Caloocan City police station, said belonged to her husband.

She told police her husband left their house at around 9 p.m. Saturday to attend a party in Las Piñas but failed to return home as of yesterday morning.

“We are determining if the victim is really Levi Dulay through our crime lab and how the incident happened through our arson investigators,” Soriano said.

The Northern Police District-Scene of the Crime Operatives personnel were still working yesterday to determine if the body is that of a man or a woman.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Edwin Buenaventura, Caloocan City arson investigator, said they were only able to identify the vehicle as a Mitsubishi Adventure through its body design and front logo.

Buenaventura said the case could be homicide or murder “but that’s now for our local police officers to determine.” The Caloocan City fire department received a fire alarm at around 2 a.m. yesterday about a burning vehicle near the corner of C-3 Road and Torsillo street in Dagat-Dagatan. This portion of the highway is occupied by big warehouses, with no nearby residential areas. 

Firemen led by Senior Fire Officer 2 Renato Saban responded and put out the blaze some 20 minutes later. They found the body in the middle of the car, face down on the floor.