'Dead man' in torched car found alive in La Union

MANILA, Philippines - A man whose wife claimed his body was found in a burning car along C-3 Road in Caloocan City last week is actually alive and confined in a hospital in La Union province, police said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police investigation chief, said Levi Dulay, 45, is confined at the Lorma Medical Center in San Fernando, La Union.

“We were able to trace Levi Dulay at a medical clinic here in San Fernando, La Union. He is being treated for minor injuries,” Soriano told The STAR yesterday.

Soriano said he was still working with the hospital’s management for Dulay’s immediate transfer to a hospital in Manila.

“He has a lot of things to explain,” Soriano said, adding that Dulay’s parents are from Caba town in La Union.

Soriano and his men were still investigating yesterday how Dulay landed in a hospital in La Union and of his connection to the man found dead inside his car.

Dulay’s Mitsubishi Adventure (WLV-586) was found torched along C-3 Road in Dagat-Dagatan at around 2 a.m. on Jan. 16. A man’s body, burned beyond recognition, was found in the middle seat of the vehicle. Police recovered Dulay’s wallet, driver’s license and cell phone from the vehicle.

Dulay’s wife, Ana Marie, told police the remains were that of her husband, based on the recovered items. She tried to claim the body, but police did not release it since another woman, Leticia Chua, 24, is saying the remains could be that of her missing husband, Gildo Chua, 40. Leticia said witnesses saw her husband riding Dulay’s car just before it was seen burning along C-3 Road.

Senior Superintendent Jude Santos, Caloocan City police chief, said “there must be more to what she (Ana Marie) is saying than meets the eye.” He added that “after finding that Dulay is still alive, our investigation is getting closer to the resolution of the case.”