• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The decomposing body of a senior citizen was found at sea on Sunday morning, September 28, located at Purok 13, Barangay Inayawan, in the town of Cauayan, Negros Occidental, after being missing for two days.
It was reported that the cadaver was discovered floating at sea by local fishermen. Upon discovery, the family of the deceased positively identified the body as their 62-year-old grandfather, a resident of Purok 18, Barangay Inayawan.
The investigation by the Cauayan Municipal Police Station revealed that at around 8 p.m. on September 26, the victim was last seen by two witnesses – children, in an intoxicated state while attempting to cross the river near his residence. According to the witnesses, the victim fell into the water and was swept away by the current.
After the family heard the incident, they immediately reported it to the authorities, but the efforts to locate him were unsuccessful.
Two days later, the cadaver, which was in the advanced state of decomposition, was found floating at sea near the same barangay, confirming the testimony of the witnesses regarding the earlier incident.
Due to the status of the cadaver, the bereaved family refused to bring the body to the hospital for post-mortem examination and opted for immediate burial at the Inayawan Cemetery.*
