A government employee was found lifeless in his rented room in Brgy. Namuccayan, Sto. Niño, Cagayan.
The victim, identified as 44-year-old Richard Bunagan, a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) employee and resident of Brgy. Bagay, Tuguegarao City.
PLT Noriel Ualat, deputy chief of police of PNP Sto. Niño, confirmed the identity of Bunagan, who had been living in Brgy. Namuccayan at the time of his death.
According to the investigation, Bunagan was last seen alive at 6:00 AM on September 18, 2024.
On September 20, a barangay councilor noticed a foul odor coming from the back of the barangay hall, directly in front of the victim’s rented room.
When the barangay councilor opened the door to Bunagan’s room, the victim’s decomposing body was found face down near his bed.
His body was immediately taken to the Sto. Niño Municipal Health Office for a post-mortem examination.
As of now, the cause of death remains undetermined, but authorities noted that Bunagan had hypertension and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
No wounds or signs of foul play were found on his body, leading investigators to believe that his death might be related to his existing medical condition.
It was learned that Bunagan had been working as an engineer on a new bridge project in the area.
His body has since been returned to his family in Brgy. Bagay, Tuguegarao.