Man stabbed, stuffed in travel bag

The body of a 77-year-old man was found stuffed in a travelling bag inside his residence in Barangay Villahermosa, Tudela, Cebu on Sunday evening.

Victim Felipe Baring was the former budget officer of Tudela town.

PO1 Junard Temperatura of Tudela Police Station said Baring sustained a deep hack wound to the left side of his head while his mouth was gagged with a cloth.

He also had wounds in the hands which suggest that he fought back.

Based on the assessment of a physician, Baring was killed about six to eight hours before he was discovered by his relatives.

Baring was living alone in his residence located in a remote barangay in Tudela. His nearest neighbor is about one kilometer away.

Elmer Orbeta, 30, husband of Baring's niece, came to the victim's residence Sunday noon to work on a piece of furniture that the victim wanted fixed.

Orbeta told the police that the main entrance and the back of the doors of the house were closed. He passed through the sliding wooden window at the back but he did not see Baring.

At around 4 p.m., he left and went home in Barangay McArthur.

At around 6 p.m., Orbeta and his wife, Cherrie, returned to the victim's residence.

Temperatura said Cherrie found blood stains inside Baring's room and they found his body in a travelling bag.

The police are now looking into personal grudge as possible motive behind the killing as all the valuable items in the house were not touched.

Temperatura said they already have two persons of interest but they cannot divulge their identity yet pending investigation.

Moradas/MBG