Body of "gay" found with 21 stab wounds

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines   — Is there a gay killer on the loose in this city? This was the question raised after a body of reportedly gay man was found with 21 stab wounds at the Reclamation Area in this city Wednesday afternoon.

Senior Insp. Robert Dejucos, Bacolod Police Station 2 chief, said the victim was found lying on his back by a construction worker, whose name he did not disclose, who immediately informed them.

Dejucos said the victim was wearing a white sleeveless shirt, white skinny jeans, earrings with bangles, and brown slippers, an appearance that led the police to surmise the victim was gay.

The victim was still unidentified as of press time as no identification cards were recovered from him, said Dejucos who also described the victim to be 5 feet tall, in early 20s and with fair complexion.

Meanwhile, the two teenager-suspects in the brutal slay of Dr. Andres Gumban last week were also being investigated for a possible link in the brutal killing of a call center agent in a pension house in this city in September last year, according to Sr. Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, Bacolod City Police director.

De la Paz said the manner in which Gumban was killed was similar to the way Ian Sherwin Sandoval, 34, who was a Transcom Asia employee, was murdered.

Sandoval’s body with 16 stab wounds was found in a room of Ester Pension House.

Gumban was stabbed 34 times at his residence by suspects Fof Pascual Jr., 18, and a 16-year-old, who even recorded the merciless crime in a cellular phone’s video.

De la Paz said robbery with homicide and murder charges have been filed against the two suspects who admitted to using illegal drugs and are “call boys (male prostitutes).” (FREEMAN)