Body stuffed in balikbayan box

MANILA, Philippines - The body of a man, stabbed and strangled, was found stuffed inside a balikbayan box in a Quezon City neighborhood on Sunday night.

Village watchmen of Barangay Sto. Domingo found the box at the corner of Tirad Pass and Biak na Bato streets as they were patrolling the area at around 10 p.m.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Joselito Gagaza said the man was 5’3” in height, estimated to be in his early 40s, had long curly hair, and clad in a white tank top and checkered shorts.

Gagaza said the man had a tattoo of a dragon on his left shoulder and the word “Cholo Villarin” on his back.

Barangay watchman Alfredo Pineda was with three colleagues in their patrol car when they noticed a brown box. They were shocked to find inside the box the body, the feet and hands bound with packaging tape.

The watchmen reported the incident to the police for investigation.

Gagaza said no one had come forward yet to identify the man, who had several puncture wounds on his face and ligature marks on his neck.