Police are probing the death of an American national was was found lifeless in his rented home in Terra Cotta Villas in Mabalacat City.
65-year-old Chance Eugene Batchelor was discovered unconscious on September 14 at 6.30am in his bedroom. The son of the caretaker was the first to discover him.
The caretaker took Batchelor to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His body was later brought to a funeral home in Dau and later cremated.
In an official police report, an officer noticed that Batchelor’s body did not undergo an autopsy because of a non-autopsy waiver signed by one Jun Sabillo – reportedly the driver of the service vehicle which brought him to the hospital.
The officer also noted that Barangay Captain Jessie Duran of Barangay Camachiles was the one who contracted the services of the funeral home.
An investigation team headed by the local police asked for the passport of the deceased but was told that it was already give to the US Embassy together with a copy of the death certificate.
Police say that the owners of Terra Cotta Villas as well as Barangay officials may face legal liabilities for their failure to report the incident to the police after its original discovery.
Authorities are now saying that the entire incident was not even recorded in barangay blotters.