Unread papers at ex-cop’s door gave clues of death

Three newspaper copies left untouched at the doorway led to the discovery of the body of a retired policeman at his Quezon City apartment on Wednesday.

The remains of Saturnino Manabat, 68, a tenant at Elizabeth Mansion on N. Domingo Street in Barangay Kaunlaran, Cubao, were already decomposing when found by a maintenance worker who was also in charge of his daily supply of newspapers.

Manabat was a former member of the Western (now Manila) Police District.

SPO1 Jaime Gimena of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU) said Manabat may have been dead for four days.

Gimena said the body was discovered just before noon Wednesday by Marlo Carampatana, who noticed the newspapers that had started to pile up outside Manabat’s door as he was delivering the latest issue.

The worker then alerted the administrative office. The apartment unit was opened using a duplicate key and Manabat was found dead lying on the bed.

An autopsy was underway to determine if there was foul play, Gimena said.