Tuesday, April 08, 2008 Fall from hotel rooftop kills Canadian guest
A 55-YEAR-old Canadian was found dead in a parking area of a hotel in Sitio La Guardia, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City at dawn yesterday.
Homicide Section investigators led by SPO2 Rey Cuyos identified the victim as Robert Van Cook, a guest of the hotel.
Security guard Eduardo Malinog first found Cook at around 5 a.m. yesterday lying in the parking area with severe injuries in his head and body.
Scene of the Crime Operations (Soco) 7 personnel led by SPO3 Virgilio Bagasala recovered a black wallet from Cook’s pocket. Found inside the wallet were SIM packs, the electronic keycard to his hotel room, immigration identification and Philhealth cards all bearing Cook’s name, and assorted papers.
Cook was believed to have fallen from the rooftop of the hotel.
Homicide Section Chief Mario Monilar said they were trying to find out if Cook accidentally fell, jumped on purpose or was pushed.
Monilar said no one witnessed the incident.
Information gathered by Cuyos’ team from the hotel’s front desk show that Cook checked in at the hotel since Feb. 17 and occupied a room at the second floor.
He paid three to five days in advance. But since March 20, Cook incurred bills amounting to P11,200 from the hotel.
He was reminded of his payables last April 2, when Cook assured to settle his account on or before April 4 as he was still waiting for his pension. Monilar said Cook failed to pay.
The responding team of homicide investigators and Soco 7 personnel found a plastic chair beside the railings at the rooftop of the four-story hotel.
Cuyos’ team is still checking whether the presence of the chair near the railings is connected with Cook’s death.
The investigators also checked Cook’s room but did not find any indication of struggle.
Monilar said his office has already coordinated with the Canadian Embassy for background check. (JST)
