THE death of a man found inside a carton factory here on Monday, September 22, has been officially ruled a homicide, contradicting initial police speculation that the death was self-inflicted.

The ruling has led the victim’s family to demand justice.

The victim, identified as Renato ‘Ebor’ Racho, 50, a single father and resident of Sta. Ana, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, was found dead at his workplace.

His death leaves his son and two daughters, all college students, orphaned. His wife died of an illness four years ago.

Initial investigation by the Tagoloan Police, as interviewed by Misor Radyo on Tuesday, suggested the death may have been a suicide.

Police Major Enrique Dungog, the Tagoloan Police Station Chief, initially noted a lack of struggle.“No sign of struggle, diin sa scatter sa dugo ang dugo is nandon lang sa ibaba,” Dungog said.

Dungog added that Racho’s co-employees told police the victim had been depressed.

“Minsan hindi na po sya nagsasalita, one to two weeks na po syang hindi nagsasalita,” Dungog relayed.

The chief of police also said an improvised scrap of iron, described as a “Tool sya na pang tastas ng sako” (a tool to untie sacks), was found near the victim’s neck. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Racho entering the area where he was found dead alone.

However, Dungog emphasized that an investigation was ongoing to determine if there was any foul play and that the police would cooperate with the medical report from the Scene of the Crime Operatives.

Cause of death ruled homicide

The medical report, released by Kristian Carl Terence Caballes, confirmed that Racho had a stab wound extending from his neck to his thorax.

The wound was determined to be the cause of death, and the manner of death was subsequently ruled as homicide.

In an exclusive interview with Gold Star Daily last night, Racho’s 21-year-old daughter, Lourie Mie Racho, a third-year college student, grieved the loss of her father.

She said the family did not believe his death was self-inflicted.

“Wala na baya mi mama karon wala nasad mi papa,” she said, expressing their grief at becoming orphans.Lourie Mie called for a swift police investigation, demanding justice for her father now that his death has been ruled a homicide.

“Kung kinsa man gani nagbuhat ani sa akong papa makonsensya unta ka,” she said.