German national found dead in La Union province

By Ronron
July 9, 2007

A 67-year-old German national was found dead last Saturday afternoon inside his house in La Union province.

Police identified the victim as Eberhard Rust, a pensioner, resident of No. 138 Mayer St., Abad Compound, Barangay Ili Norte, San Juan town. He is reportedly estranged from his Filipina wife who is now based in the neighboring province of Pangasinan.

Rust, who allegedly lives alone, was found by his neighbors at around 2:30 pm ,lying at the receiving room of his house, bearing several stab wounds all over his body and on his head.

Police said Rust’s neighbors have wondered why he has not responded to their calls in the last three days, prompting them to check on him.

Last Saturday afternoon, one of his neighbors, Leopoldo Basibas, peeked through a window but was met with an unpleasant smell. From the outside, he saw Rust’s decomposing body.

Police who later responded to the site recovered a pair of stainless kitchen knives and a wooden axe handle. The knives were stained with dried blood.

Police said the motive for the killing possibly is robbery because the closets and cabinets inside Rust’s house were found opened and his personal belongings were scattered.

Police suspect that the crime was perpetrated some three days before Rust’s body was found or from the time the neighbor’s calls were not heeded to.

They also noted the presence of maggot on the cadaver that indicates it is already under the state of decomposition.

Police are still investigating who could be behind the crime, noting the absence of signs of forcible entry.

Several empty bottles of San Miguel Beer found inside the receiving room, however, provides an indication that the suspects first had an encounter with Rust before committing the crime. The possibility that they are welcome guests also explains why the doors and windows were properly closed and locked.

But police have yet to find out if somebody saw these people whom Rust had a drinking session with.

They also have yet to establish contact with Rust’s alleged live-in partner, who was not around when the supposed incident happened.

The victim’s body was already taken to a funeral parlor in Bauang town for autopsy.

In April of this year, a German national in Bohol was killed together with his wife. The couple’s helper was implicated in the crime./DMS