Trader found dead in Davao Norte road

TAGUM City, Philippines—A trader and son of a former vice governor of Davao del Norte was found dead on a village road in the municipality of Carmen town Tuesday morning, the authorities said.

Senior Superintendent Edgardo Wycoco, Davao del Norte police chief, said Fredelyn San Jose, 46, married and a resident of Trebajo Village, was found on a road in the village of Alejal past 9 a.m. with a wound in the right temple and investigators were still trying to determine what caused it.

The victim was the son of former Davao del Norte Vice Governor Pedro San Jose, who is currently an official of the University of Mindanao.

The victim was last seen alive early Monday morning as he left his home in his car, said Supt. Glenn Cristenes, Davao del Norte police public information officer.

Reports about the victim being abducted by unidentified men were shot down by authorities, saying they could not see any indication yet of the supposed kidnapping.

Police were already communicating with the victim’s family Monday night after his vehicle was found abandoned at Purok 10-B, Alejal, said Wycoco.

A handheld radio call informed Carmen police about a male cadaver found in the area, and responding policemen found the victim’s body some 100 meters from his vehicle, Wycoco said.

“Based on our initial investigation, the victim had left a message to the family house help that he would be away for quite sometime and that if he could not return within five days, they are to open a certain bag he had left,” Cristenes told the Inquirer by mobile phone, adding a joint investigation by Carmen and Tagum police stations has started.

Probers were still investigating as to what caused the victim’s death, Cristenes said.

“It appeared suicide but we cannot rule out foul play. As of this moment we cannot really officially declare whether the wounds were self-inflicted or otherwise and what weapon or weapons were used. We are still investigating,” Cristenes said.