Man beheaded in Pagadian City

PAGADIAN CITY–Police authorities said a 29-year-old man, who was previously jailed for rape and arson, was killed and beheaded here.

Alberto Empal’s body was recovered some 200 meters away from their house in Purok Ipil-ipil in Barangay Ditoray around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Police Officer 3 Joel Limbo, said.

The head had not yet been found.

He said relatives had identified the headless body as that of their kin, who was last seen alive on Monday evening while drinking with some neighbors.

Loreto, a brother of the victim, said it was around 9 p.m. Monday when they heard Alberto screaming for help but could not find him because it was dark.

Early morning Tuesday, he said a neighbor told them a headless body was found near their home.

Loreto said they immediately recognized the body as Alberto’s.

Limbo said the police had found out that Alberto was arrested and charged for rape and arson in Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur in 2014.

He was acquitted and released from prison in 2017 because the complainant, his former live-in partner, did not appear in court.

Limbo said they were still conducting investigation to determine the motive in the beheading of Alberto.

He said the police had so far invited one person of interest./lb