DAVAO CITY — A 47-year-old delivery rider was found brutally murdered in a dimly lit alley in Barangay Tibungco in the early hours of Monday, April 13, 2026, prompting an intensified manhunt for a suspect last seen with the victim shortly before his death.
The victim, identified by police as Joseph Felicitas Reoja, also known as “Guod,” a resident of Purok 8A, Alcantara Communal in Tibungco, was discovered lifeless around 1:00 a.m. in Purok 14, Deluxe. Authorities said he sustained multiple stab wounds to the body, including fatal injuries to the back and head, indicating a violent and targeted attack.
Initial investigation by the Bunawan Police Station 6 revealed that Reoja was last seen alive at around 12:30 a.m. while staying at the house of his cousin, identified as Sarah Jane Nacua. According to Nacua’s account to investigators, a man known only by the alias “Aming” arrived and fetched the victim from her residence.
Minutes later, Nacua reportedly received alarming information that her cousin had already been found dead.
Responding police officers and forensic personnel from the Regional Forensic Unit 11, led by Police Major Roldan M. Parreño, conducted a thorough examination of the crime scene. The victim was declared dead on the spot.
Recovered from the scene were several personal belongings, including a black cap, a ₱100 bill, and a pair of black sunglasses, which, according to reports, had been given to Reoja by his son.
The victim’s body was subsequently transported to Rivera Funeral Homes in Licanan, Lasang, Davao City, where authorities recommended an autopsy to determine the exact cause and timeline of death.
Police said the suspect, “Aming,” had already fled the area and is now the subject of an ongoing manhunt. Investigators are currently reviewing footage from nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to trace the suspect’s movements and establish the sequence of events leading to the killing.
Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the crime, but they are pursuing all possible angles, including personal grudges and other potential links.
The killing adds to growing concerns over late-night violence in parts of the city, with police urging residents to remain vigilant and to report any information that may aid in the swift arrest of the suspect.
As of this writing, the investigation remains ongoing.