The vice president of the Technological Institute of the Philippines and his driver who were both found dead Friday night inside a black Ford Everest on a parking lot of a gasoline station, both suffered from heart attack, according to Senior Inspector Melchor Villar.
Villar said driver Claudio Flojo, 66, was driving with Reynaldo Chinjen, 80, when Flojo felt signs of heart attack, causing him to park in the gasoline station Caltex along President Quirino Avenue in Pandacan, Manila. Flojo died first, followed by Chinjen, probably out of panic, he said.
Villar said Flojo had already undergone bypass operation before while Chinjen had a history of hypertension.
PO3 Bernardo Cayabyab said there were no signs of struggle as both victims showed no visual external physical injuries. He added that belongings of victims, such as ring, watch, wallet and money and other valuables, were intact.
Around 8:50 p.m. of Friday, Cayabyab said Flojo’s lifeless body was seen leaning on the right side lap of Chinjen.
Villar said the “infuriating odor” smelled inside the car was caused by a spilling rubber cement named Kenvil, used in making slippers and stored at the trunk of the car.
Pending the results of post-mortem, Villar said they have also been looking into the possibility of chemical poisoning or suffocation from the chemical.
Villar has advised employers to make sure that the drivers they hire are medically fit.