American found dead in Angeles City apartment

ANGELES CITY – An American was found brutally killed inside his apartment at the commercial district in Barangay Balibago here last Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Felixberto Castillo, city police chief, said the victim, 64-year-old Tyler Hammond, was tied up with wires and stabbed several times in the toilet of his apartment at Santa Maria Village I. A bloodstained kitchen knife was found near the toilet.

Castillo said Tyler could have been killed at least three days earlier.

Police still have no suspects although Tyler’s Filipino girlfriend and caretaker Joben de la Cruz have been invited for questioning.

Tyler’s killing lent a somber note to the local American community’s observance of their July 4 Independence Day.

Members of the US Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2485 based here were expected yesterday afternoon to join a performance of bands from the Philippine Air Force and local schools at the Bayanihan Park at the Clark Freeport’s main entrance.

“I think the party will be subdued by what happened to Tyler,” said an American who asked not to be named.

Tyler’s killing is the latest violent incident to grip the city this week. Last Monday, motorcycle-riding robbers shot dead PO1 Carlpul Cerdonmola, 33.

The lawman was on his way home on his motorcycle when he chanced upon a ski mask-wearing man robbing an old man. He confronted the robber, but an accomplice shot him from behind.

The robbers, who fled with the old man’s bracelet worth some P50,000 and Cerdenola’s caliber .38 revolver, are at large.

The following day, 66-year-old Adam Canlas was shot dead while two others, including an old woman, were wounded when unidentified men fired at them with M-16 rifles in Barangay Ninoy Aquino.

Castillo said most crimes against foreigners occurred in the city’s subdivisions where they lived, and involved, in some cases, their Filipino girlfriends.

Castillo cited the case of a 68-year-old Australian who was also slain in his apartment at Villasol Subdivision last May. The suspect turned out to be the husband of the victim’s girlfriend.