A Canadian national was found dead Thursday afternoon by police authorities inside his rented apartment in Purok Kaakbayan, Pablico Road 2, Barangay Tiniguiban.
He was identified by Puerto Princesa City Police Office (PPCPO) Station 2 on-case investigator PO3 Clemente B. Naling Jr. as 77 years old Richard P. Letkeman.
Letkeman was discovered lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood with his arms clasped under his chest.
Per initial observation, Naling said no wound was found in his body and the blood might be due to bleeding in the mouth.
Naling said that based on the identification cards and other documents recovered from Letkeman, he was a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Ronilo Demejillo, the owner of the three-storey apartment where Letkeman had been staying, said he was the only occupant.
“Hindi man siya matagal dito. Pumunta siya ng Canada six months [na at] parang kelan lang bumalik ‘yan [ulit] dito. January lang from Canada. Siya lang mag-isa diyan,” said Demejillo.
Demejillo added a neighbor called the attention of his caretaker to check the foul odor coming from the room. The caretaker then informed him about it around 1:00 p.m.
He said it was his wife Matilde who called the police from Tagaytay where she was attending a seminar for teachers.
He said they waited for the police before opening the door of the apartment.
Police Chief Inspector Rafael B. Roxas, head of the City Crime Laboratory Office (CCLO), said their initial investigation revealed that Letkeman died due to cardiac arrest.
He said no stab-wound was found in his body.
“Mga apat [na araw na siyang patay], may maggots na rin kasi. Nasa advance state of decomposition na,” he said.
However, Roxas reiterated they will still conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of his death.
Roxas said they will contact the Canadian Embassy to inform Letkeman’s family about his death.
