Retired journalist found dead near beach bore stab wound—police

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Police authorities are looking into the possibility of foul play in the death of retired newsman and Cebuano fiction writer Satur Apoyon.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Morente, Southern Mindanao police chief, told reporters here Thursday that because of this possibility, he had ordered a joint investigation by the Davao Oriental and the Davao City police.

Apoyon’s body was found floating off the beach in the municipality of Governor Generoso on Tuesday, five days after he was reported missing in Davao, where he had a house.

Morente said he wanted to know why Apoyon had a stab wound on the right side of his abdomen.

“I have directed the city director to conduct a joint investigation with the Governor Generoso police,” Morente said.

He said the stab wound was found by a coroner who examined Apoyon’s body on Tuesday.

“We are conducting a backtracking investigation to determine the series of events that led to his untimely death. We would like to know why it happened, who did it and bring justice to Apoyon,” Morente said.

Davao City police director Rene Aspera said police investigators went to Apoyon’s house here for the backtracking investigation.

He said investigators had talked to retired Philippine Information Agency employee Rose Palacio, who had seen Apoyon at about 5 p.m. on May 20 and another one, who saw Apoyon in Matina earlier that morning. Apoyon failed to return home that day.

Aspera said Palacio told investigators Apoyon seemed to be disoriented when she saw him near Victoria Plaza here.

Apoyon’s family refused to talk to reporters.