Police: No foul play seen yet

The Department of Public Safety sees no evidence of foul play as yet in the death of a 62-year-old man whose body was found along Beach Road last Tuesday evening.

Dong Pabalinas, a 62-year-old Filipino male, was found dead last Tuesday at around 10:53pm along Beach Road in Garapan.

According to DPS spokesman Adrian Pangelinan, for the moment, the case is not considered a homicide but the police are following protocols and are treating it as a homicide to ensure that all aspects of the case are investigated. There is no official cause of death yet; it has not been determined yet as of yesterday.

A source who was at the scene last Tuesday night said a friend of his saw Pabalinas being dragged from the main road to the grassy roadside area near the trash can across KS Store.

The witness, along with his 12-year-old daughter, told the source that two men were dragging an unconscious man onto the side of the road.

The witness’ daughter said they were tapping the man’s cheek as if to wake him up.

The source said the two men tried to enter the KS Store across the street but, since it was already closed at that time, failed to do so and left. The source said the two men appeared drunk.

Police are now seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the two men because they may have more information about the death.

The first individual is described to be approximately 5’6” and medium built, brown complexion, and was seen wearing a T-shirt, a pair of short pants, and a pair of flip-flops with no known colors.

The second individual is described to be similar in height, light complexioned, skinny in build, and could be Asian.

The two individuals are encouraged to contact the Criminal Bureau of Investigation at 664-9042.

According to a close friend of Pabalinas, she was shocked to hear of Pabalinas’ passing. She said he seemed elderly but seemed strong.

Pabalinas had no family on Saipan but had a circle of close friends.

She said she had known Pabalinas for years and, when he lost his job, she helped him out with money from time to time to get by. She was even thinking of lending him money so he could go back to Philippines by the end of the month.

When asked about Pabalinas, she emotionally described him as a kind and overall a great person.

She also mentioned that Pabalinas loved to gamble and could have been coming home late after gambling.

Pabalinas’ family was informed yesterday of his passing and are currently working on getting his body repatriated to the Philippines.

For anyone interested in helping Pabalinas’ family out, donation boxes will be stationed at the R-Lyn’s Dress Shop in Garapan and at the Liberty Plaza, also in Garapan.