The Philippine Star

Rapper Blakdyak found dead; foul play ruled out

- By REY GALUPO

Rapper- comedian Blakdyak was found dead in his condominiu­m unit Monday night, an apparent suicide.

The Manila Police District yesterday ruled out foul play in the death of the 46-year-old entertaine­r, real name Joey Formaran, who popularize­d 1990s novelty songs “Modelong Charing,” “Good Boy,” “Magic Kapote” and “Asin at Paminta.”

Formaran was found with his head wrapped in a plastic bag at his condominiu­m unit on Dapitan street in Sampaloc at past 6 p.m.

Senior Police Officer 1 Lester Evangelist­a, homicide investigat­or, said Formaran died from “asphyxia thru smothering” and there were no signs indicating he was forced to put the plastic bag on his head.

It was possible that the victim took “downers” and drank before committing suicide, he said.

“We saw a bottle of Chivas Regal inside his bathroom, but there were a lot of bottles in the kitchen. He was alone in the room and it was only when he failed to answer the calls from his wife that they began worrying and his 12-yearold son Tomi forcibly opened the door,” Evangelist­a told The STAR.

He said that based on what they saw Formaran could have been dead for more than three hours before he was discovered.

Evangelist­a said the rapper could have taken his life because of depression.

Formaran, who was one of the country’s most bankable rappers, had been in trouble with the law, particular­ly with the Quezon City Police District, for drug-related offenses.

He also made headlines after figuring in bar brawls.

Formaran also served time for disturbing the peace in Mandaluyon­g City and had often been in trouble with women tenants in the Manila condominiu­m for flashing and “other misdemeano­rs,” according to a tenant.

Apolonio Bernabe, condominiu­m caretaker, said he saw Formaran hours before he was found dead walking halfnaked and looking lost in the building hallway.

The Filipino-Barbadosia­n Formaran was married to Twinkle Estanislao. They have four children.

Estanislao said while they had been separated for one year, they kept in touch and there were no problems with his career since his bar gigs came one after another, ABS-CBN reported.

However, an unnamed friend said Formaran wanted to do shows out of town and his former friends and colleagues were avoiding him, according to ABS-CBN.

 ?? REY GALUPO ?? The body of rapper Blakdyak (top left), covered by a sheet, lies on a mattress in his condominiu­m unit Monday night. Bottom left photo, taken from GMA News, shows his widow, Twinkle Estanislao.
REY GALUPO The body of rapper Blakdyak (top left), covered by a sheet, lies on a mattress in his condominiu­m unit Monday night. Bottom left photo, taken from GMA News, shows his widow, Twinkle Estanislao.
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