Dutchman shot dead inside Cavite home

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines—Police on Saturday launched an investigation into the attack on a Dutch national who was found dead inside his home in a private subdivision in Bacoor City, Cavite, on Friday evening.

Senior Superintendent Joselito Esquivel, Cavite police director, identified the victim as Manfred Mueller, 62.

Mueller, who was married to a Filipina with whom he had a four-year-old child, was home alone in Meadowood Executive Village in Barangay Panapaan when he was shot dead around 8 p.m., Esquivel said in a text message.

The village security guard, who heard  shots fired, reported the incident to the city police.  Mueller was declared dead upon arrival in the hospital, said Esquivel.

Superintendent Rommel Estolano, Bacoor City police chief, said in a telephone interview that the victim was identified through his passport, which showed he arrived in the Philippines about six months ago.

“His neighbors actually didn’t know him that much, yet,” he said.

He said investigators found documents showing Mueller could have worked as a captain of a shipping company with an office in Makati City, but all other details, he said, remained unclear to the authorities.

“We are still waiting for his wife, who is expected to arrive today (Saturday) from Pangasinan. She should be the one to provide more details about the victim’s identity,” Estolano said.

Based on initial investigation, the police believed a lone gunman carried out the attack, but they could not yet establish the motive for the  killing.

Estolano said only the wife could tell if anything was stolen from their home.