The decomposing body of a former Bacolod City official was found in his room in a boarding house at 18th Street, Bacolod City at about 6:30 p.m. yesterday.

The fatality was identified as Ramon Lozana, 55, a former executive assistant of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Lozana occupied room number 10 of the Servi Dei Community Center, Station 2 react team leader Police Officer 1 Jermin Bela-ong said.

Bela-ong said Lozana’s boardmate Joebert Gaston, 24, sought their help yesterday when they started to notice foul odor coming from his room.

Gaston told the police that they last saw Lozana alive on Tuesday when he was looking for red pepper. He added that they knocked at the room of Lozana on Thursday and asked him to join their bible study downstairs but Lozano did not respond.

Gaston asked boarding house owner Noli Puentebella for permission yesterday to seek police help so they could open Lozana’s room.

Belaong and Police Officer 1 Robert Toreno, who went to the area, forced open Lozana’s room in the presence of his board mates and they saw Lozana lying on his back on his bed, police records show.

Belaong said that, based on their initial investigation, no sign of struggle was noted in Lozana’s room and no visible wounds were found in his body. He added that they were told that Lozana was suffering from a heart ailment and was taking some medicines.

Lozana’s remains are now at the Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels, where it will be autopsied to determine the cause of his death. Lozano was an executive assistant to Leonardia in 2007 and left public service in 2008.

Former executive assistant Butch Ebreo, a close friend of Lozana, rushed to the scene yesterday when he heard of his death,

“Ramon was approachable, very friendly, and a straight person,” Ebreo told the DAILY STAR.

Ebreo said Lozana, who was single, lived alone as most of his relatives are abroad. He said they will have his body cremated after the autopsy.*APN

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