In a small coastal town where neighbors know each other’s routines, it took nearly two weeks before anyone realized something was wrong.
On Monday evening, August 11, police discovered the decomposing body of a 78-year-old Australian national inside the comfort room of his home in Barangay Pagsulhugon.
Authorities have ruled out foul play.
Police identified the victim only as “Sam,” a married resident of San Isidro Street, Zone 3.
He had been living in Babatngon for years, blending quietly into the daily life of the community.
According to the Babatngon Municipal Police Station, the alarm was raised by a village official who reported a foul smell coming from the victim’s residence at around 7:30 p.m.
Responding officers found the body in an advanced state of decomposition, suggesting that he had been dead for several days.
Neighbors told police they last saw Sam on July 29, riding a motorcycle without a shirt — a common sight in the warm tropical afternoons. None reported any disputes or threats made against him.
Municipal Health Officer Dr. Julieta Conge arrived at around 8:30 p.m. to conduct a post-mortem examination. She determined that the cause of death was natural causes.
While there was no indication of violence, police requested the Regional Forensic Unit 8 to process the scene for documentation and proper case disposition.
Residents, accustomed to the foreigner’s quiet presence, were shocked by the discovery. For many, his sudden and solitary passing served as a stark reminder of how easily people can disappear from daily life without immediate notice.
Authorities are urging communities to check on elderly neighbors, especially those living alone, to prevent similar tragedies.
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