Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation after a 69-year-old Catholic priest was discovered with a fatal neck wound inside a condominium unit in Cebu City on Wednesday morning, November 12, 2025.
Discovery of the Tragedy
Rescue personnel found Father Decoroso Jurban Olmilla bleeding profusely from a neck injury within a condominium unit in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City at approximately 10:40 AM. The responding medical team immediately examined the victim but detected no vital signs and urgently attempted to transport him to a medical facility.
The Mabolo Police Station received the initial emergency call reporting a man with a severe neck injury bleeding heavily inside the condo unit. Police Major Eric Gingoyon, chief of Mabolo Police Station, confirmed that investigators are exploring all possibilities, including potential foul play in the priest's death.
Investigation Developments
Currently, two individuals remain in police custody as the investigation continues. Authorities are meticulously reviewing CCTV footage from the condominium building to reconstruct the events leading to the priest's death.
A 25-year-old woman who was present in the condominium with Father Olmilla is undergoing questioning. According to her initial statement, she claimed Father Olmilla had previously expressed suicidal intentions for unspecified reasons, though she did not take these statements seriously.
The woman told investigators she emerged from a room to discover the priest already lying on a sofa with blood covering the floor, clutching his neck wound. She immediately sought assistance from building security.
Background and Previous Controversy
Father Olmilla was currently residing at the St. Therese Child of Jesus Parish in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. Before his assignment to San Fernando El Rey Parish, he had served six years in Daan Bantayan City, another six years at St. Therese Child of Jesus Parish in Lahug, and at San Nicolas Parish in Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City.
The deceased priest had previously been involved in controversy when he was detained at the Canduman Police Station on December 26, 2018, for allegedly assaulting the 15-year-old daughter of his church cook. Reports indicated Father Olmilla became angry when the child failed to feed his Labrador dog. The mother filed charges against him under Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).
Police are awaiting the arrival of the priest's sibling to request permission for an autopsy that might provide clearer answers about the circumstances surrounding his death.
