American found collapsed in Subic City Jollibee bathroom confirmed dead

Jollibee
Fire and rescue officers carry Mr Ortiz from a Jollibee restaurant in Subic City today. Screenshots from video by Kim Agustin.

An American expat who was found collapsed in the bathroom of a Jollibee restaurant in Subic City has died of unknown causes.

Ismael Ortiz, aged 56, was pronounced dead on arrival at the James L Gordon Memorial Hospital shortly after noon today (Thursday, November 1). 

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A customer of the fast food chain discovered Mr Ortiz lying on the floor of the bathroom about half an hour earlier. According to the Zambales Herald Newsweekly, a fire crew attended the scene and carried Mr Ortiz from the restaurant.

An autopsy is now being performed to confirm the cause of death of Mr Ortiz, who lived in the city’s Barangay Calapandayan.

According to Police Chief Inspector Joan Sibayan of Subic Municipal Police Station, Mr Ortiz had a standing arrest warrant against him after his live-in partner Analiza Gonzales accused him of violating the Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.

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It is not known specifically how Mr Ortiz had breached the act. Among the offences outlined in RA 9262 are such vague terms as “making a woman a sex object”, “omissions likely to cause emotional suffering”, “public ridicule”, “economic abuse” and “peering in the window”. 

Investigations into his death are continuing but there have been no indications of foul play.

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