THE body of Michael “Shalani” Dolina, a known member of the LGBTQIA+ community in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, was discovered on Friday morning in a state of advanced decomposition. Police investigations suggest that Dolina had been dead for approximately five days.
The victim’s body was found in a disturbing state, with his legs in an ice cooler, his torso wrapped in a mattress, and signs of significant decomposition.
A tattoo artist residing in the house where the body was found is currently a person of interest and is being sought by authorities. Dolina had been reported missing three days prior to the discovery of his body.
Mark Dolina, the victim’s brother, confirmed that police have identified the tattoo artist as a person of interest. The tattoo artist’s mother, while unaware of her son’s whereabouts, has urged him to surrender.
“I urge him to come forward and surrender. Whatever he did, why he did it, he shouldn’t have done it. I raised him with love. If he ends up in prison, I will still visit him and bring him food. We will still see each other,” the mother said.
Mark Dolina, however, suspects that the tattoo artist was not alone in the crime. “Even if you’re strong, you can’t do something like that alone. I’m sure he had help. The police saw stab wounds on his back and cuts on his neck. They probably planned to hide him. When they were found, he was already naked. I don’t know what they did,” Mark said.
The relationship between Dolina and the tattoo artist remains unclear to both families.
Dolina’s remains are currently at a funeral home, and his family plans to hold a wake at their home in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
“It’s heartbreaking, sir. They treated my brother like an animal,” Mark said.
“They’re so shameless. It’s inhumane. Surrender yourselves,” he added.
“He was such a good person, sir, even to our parents. It’s so sad, sir,” Mark lamented.
The North Caloocan Police have yet to determine a motive for the murder. However, they are currently focusing on two to three persons of interest, including the tattoo artist and his construction worker uncle.
“They may have been drinking at the time. We are conducting continuous manhunt operations against these persons of interest. Murder is the likely charge they will face,” said Police Captain Nelson Dizon, Assistant Chief of the Investigation and Detective Management Section of the North Caloocan Police.
