Body found in Iloilo River identified

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police have identified the body found in the Iloilo River at Barangay Inday, City Proper, Iloilo City, on June 29.

Captain Roque Gimeno III of Iloilo City Police Station 1 identified the victim as Rene Pangantihon, 65, a resident of Barangay Bangac, Mina, Iloilo, who had been staying with his son in Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

His son, 29-year-old Kenneth Pangantihon, reported his father missing to Iloilo City Police Station 5.

Kenneth initially heard of a man found floating in the Iloilo River over the weekend and later learned from a radio report that the victim had been identified and claimed by his family.

“They were relieved to know that the body was not their father,” Gimeno said.

However, subsequent reports confirmed that the man who was initially reported dead had come home alive.

Police later instructed the family to coordinate with ICPS 1 to confirm if the unclaimed body was indeed Rene.

“They confirmed the body as their relative on the evening of July 1,” Gimeno added.

According to the victim’s family, Rene was last seen alive around 6 a.m. on June 28 at Barangay Bolilao. He was a stroke survivor and suffered from a mental illness. The family has refused an autopsy.