Bangkay found dead in Quezon resort

LUCENA CITY — Character actor Jose “Nonong” de Andres, 72, known in Philippine television and movies as “Bangkay” or “Bangky” due to his corpse-like appearance, was found dead at a resort in Plaridel town, Quezon province, early on Tuesday, police said.

In a report, Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon provincial police director, said Larry Liwanag, a caretaker at Tumagay Beach Resort in Barangay Tumagay, discovered De Andres’ body at 4:30 a.m.

Senior Insp. Rodel Fortunado, Plaridel police chief, said there was no indication of foul play in De Andres’ death.

Quoting information from resort workers, Fortunado said De Andres, 72, had long been suffering from emphysema, a lung condition that causes shortness of breath.

He said De Andres, a bachelor, was living alone in the resort owned by the actor’s friend.

Before his death, De Andres was often seen in shopping malls in this city, always accommodating fans wanting to get their pictures taken with him.

De Andres was known to portray a dead man in horror movies due to his thin frame.

His role as “Bangky,” a vegetable farmer in the fictional La Presa community in the 2014 television drama series “Forevermore,” made him a household name. —Delfin T. Mallari Jr.