A man reported missing in Caloocan City was found dead, his body already decomposing—his legs stuffed inside an ice cooler and his torso wrapped in a mattress. Authorities have identified a tattoo artist, who lived in the house where the body was discovered, as a person of interest.
The victim, 37-year-old Michael Dolina, also known as Shalani, had been missing for three days before the stench of his decaying body led to its discovery on Friday in Phase 10, Barangay Bagong Silang.
According to his brother, Mark Dolina, police informed them that the tattoo artist residing in the house was under investigation. Meanwhile, the suspect’s mother, speaking to GMA Integrated News, urged her son to surrender.
“Lumantad siya, sumuko siya. Kasi kung ano man ‘yung nagawa niya, kung bakit niya nagawa, dapat hindi niya ginagawa,” she said, expressing heartbreak over the situation.
Mark, however, suspects that more than one person was involved in the gruesome killing.
“Kahit sabihin mong kahit gaano kakalakas, hindi mo kaya gawin mag-isa ‘yung gano’ng bagay… Kasi nakita po ng pulis, may saksak daw sa likod, tapos may laslas sa leeg,” he said, adding that the body was found unclothed, raising further questions about the crime.
The relationship between Dolina and the tattoo artist remains unclear to both families. The victim’s remains are now at a funeral home and will be brought to their family’s home in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, for the wake.
“Napakawalanghiya nila. Hindi makatao ‘yun. Sumuko na kayo,” Mark pleaded.
North Caloocan Police have yet to determine the motive behind the killing, but authorities are now looking into two to three persons of interest, including the tattoo artist and his uncle, a construction worker.
“Posible po na nag-iinuman sila that time. Continuous ‘yung manhunt operations natin against dito sa mga persons of interest natin na ito. Murder po ang posibleng kaharapin na kaso nito,” said Police Captain Nelson Dizon.
Investigations and search operations for the suspects are ongoing.
