Six Held in Tabuk Over Filipino Worker’s Murder

JEDDAH, 23 September 2007 — Six people are being held for questioning in the northwestern city of Tabuk in connection with the death of a Filipino loan shark, police said yesterday.

A police officer in Tabuk told Arab News in a phone interview that some Filipino nationals found the victim, identified as Manolito Ocreto, dead in his room on Sept. 12.

“We have a number of people in custody and are making sufficient progress in our investigation,” said the officer, who spoke on condition that he will not be named. He said those under investigation were people whose names appeared on Ocreto’s business list and whose ATM cards were found in his possession.

The officer said an autopsy report noted that Ocreto suffered multiple stab wounds in his torso, indicating that he was murdered.

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah said it has also received reports from its coordinators saying that the victim and those under investigation were all Filipinos working at the King Abdul Aziz Military City (KAMC) in Tabuk, which is close to the Saudi border with Jordan.

The consulate listed Ocreto’s address as 159 San Vicente, San Pedro in Laguna, a province on the southern border of metropolitan Manila.

“There were actually 13 who were held for investigation but seven were cleared and released as of Sept. 18,” said Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot.

He cited reports reaching the consulate as saying that Ocreto, called “Ka Popoy” by his colleagues, was known to be a moneylender and that police found in his possession ATM cards belonging to other people.

The 56-year-old Ocreto reportedly demanded ATM cards of borrowers as guarantee for payment. The cardholders were among those being questioned.

Lomondot said Ocreto was last seen alive on the night of Sept. 9 at his apartment inside the military city.

From Sept. 10, Ocreto failed to report to work. Concerned colleagues reported his absence to camp officials, who then ordered Ocreto’s room to be forcibly opened on Sept. 12. Police said Ocreto’s body was found covered with a blanket.