Ex-con found stuffed in box

MANILA, Philippines - An ambulant vendor found the body of an ex-convict, who had been missing for several days, stuffed in a balikbayan box that two men left under McArthur Bridge in Ermita, Manila at dawn yesterday.

Zenaida Benjamin said she does not know if the two men deliberately dumped the box or it was accidentally dropped.

Investigators identified the body as that of Angelito Bello, an alleged member of the Batang City Jail gang.

One of the people who went to see the contents of the box was surprised to find out that the body was that of her partner. Jocelyn Rabagat, 30, said Bello had served time for robbery but he had changed.

Bello had been shot four times in different parts of the body, Police Officer 3 Rodel Benitez said.