Call center agent stabbed 18 times in Caloocan

Authorities in Caloocan City are now tracking down two suspected killers of a 27-year-old call center agent whose decomposing body was discovered in an apartment in Caloocan City Tuesday.

 

Norlan Cielo Mercado died from 18 stab wounds in the chest, back and head, GMA News' Steve Dailisan reported on "24 Oras."

 

The victim was nearly unrecognizable when found, the report said.

 

Investigation showed the victim was last seen alive Friday midnight, with two men.

 

An autopsy showed the victim was killed on Saturday. It was only Tuesday that his body was found after neighbors complained of a foul smell.

 

But investigators also noted that the room where the victim's body was found bore no sign of forced entry, indicating the killers were known to the victim.

 

Inside the room were empty bottles of alcoholic beverages.

 

Taken from the victim were a mobile phone and cash. Police theorize the killers used a kitchen knife to kill the victim.

 

Relatives said the victim added a man to his list of friends in his Facebook account shortly before his death.

 

"Hindi namin yan pinalaki para patayin ng kung sinong tao," said the victim's mother Luz Mercado. —Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News