MANILA, Philippines >> Police say a retired U.S. Marine living near the Philippine capital was bludgeoned to death by robbers who broke into home and stole his valuables on Christmas Eve.

Police said Monday that robbers used a metal pipe to kill 61-year-old James Thomas Kakara, who was alone in his house in the resort town of Tagaytay. His Filipino wife and her daughter had left to spend Christmas Eve with her family nearby. They found his body the following morning.

Police spokesman Agrimerf Cruz said the robbers took about $6,000, a cellphone and a laptop from the house.

Provincial police director John Bulalacao said the victim was a consultant for an American security agency and had lived in the Philippines for four years.