Police inspect the scene where a 63-year-old man was found dead in Barangay Lawaan 1, Talisay City, Cebu early morning of Thursday, September 28, 2023. | Paul Lauro
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A dead man who was believed to have been attacked by his dogs, was found inside a small hut in Sitio Molila, Barangay Lawaan 1, Talisay City, Cebu on early Thursday morning, September 28, 2023.
The man was found motionless inside a small hut used as a restroom located a few meters away from a hut where he sleeps at around 7:00 a.m.
Police Corporal Clifford Lerio, the investigator from the Talisay City Police Station, identified the victim as 63-year-old George Mayol.
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He added that they responded to the scene after receiving a report at around 8:20 a.m. about a dead body.
In his report, Lerio stated that upon the arrival of the responding officers, personnel from the Talisay Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assessed the scene and found that the victim had no signs of life.
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Living alone with 5 dogs
Mayol was reportedly living alone inside the compound of a land owned by his family as its caretaker.
One of the victim’s neighbors, “Boboy,” said that the Mayol was last seen alive on Monday, September 25, at around 8:00 a.m. when he gave him his favorite bread that he requested.
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A few days later, the neighbors noticed that Mayol had not been going out of his house and they grew concerned.
Due to this, Boboy said that a few neighbors went inside the compound early on Thursday to check on Mayol.
However, they found him inside the hut with his clothes in pieces while his dogs were running around the compound.
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Attacked by his dogs?
Boboy said that because of what they found, they suspect that Mayol was attacked by his dogs, particularly his Doberman who has a history of being violent.
He narrated that that particular dog had bitten Mayol last July 2022 wherein he had to get a total of 59 stitches.
Boboy stated that Mayol escaped the near-death experience after a neighbor heard him screaming for help and came to his rescue.
After the incident, Boboy advised the victim to send his dogs off or bring them to the city pound but was refused as Mayol felt bad for them.
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The victim’s younger brother, Rodrigo Mayol, said that he also warned his brother about the dog’s behavior and advised him to give them up.
However, his brother who has always been a dog lover, greatly treasured his dogs who became his company while living alone and chose to keep them.
Rodrigo said that he also suspects that it was the dogs who attacked his brother and caused his untimely death based on the state he was found in.
Second attack
“Sa akong tan-aw ana, gi-attack jud siya sa iyang iro. Kay kaduha naman ning attack sa iro niya,” he said.
“Gitan-aw nako diri, iyang short gisi-gisi iyang short. Ug iyang sinina gisi-gisi nya daghan kay siya samad pina-akan,” he added.
According to Rodrigo, they will not be putting the dead man under autopsy believing that he died because of the attack by the animals.
Meanwhile, the victim’s five dogs have been caught and brought to the city pound.
Police will be conducting a follow-up investigation to determine the cause of the victim’s death, added Lerio in his report. /rcg
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