Body scooped out of Buenavista waters

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Glazyl Y. Masculino

A 12-year-old girl, who reportedly went missing after she drowned in a sea in Barangay Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental on New Year’s Day, was found in the waters of Buenavista, Guimaras Wednesday morning.

Corporal Jemar Gonzaga, Buenavista police investigator, said no identification papers were found on the body.

Members of the scene of the crime operations (SOCO) team initially did not find superficial injuries on the body that might indicate foul play.

Reports said that Glomar Gaduyon, 41, of Barangay San Pedro Buenavista, discovered the body while he was fishing at the coastline of the adjacent Navalas village around 5:30 a.m.

As of noon on Wednesday, Gonzaga said someone from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental called the police station claiming that the body could be their relative.

Their kin, a 12-year-old girl, went missing around 2 p.m. on January 1 following a drowning incident at a beach resort in Cadiz City.

Gonzaga said the description of the missing girl matched that of the cadaver.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gil John Despi, Cadiz City police chief, said the victim and her cousins went swimming on Jan. 1.

However, the victim and some of their companions separated when they went into the sea, Despi said.

Huge waves then hit them, until the victim was no longer seen, Despi said.

A search and rescue operation was conducted until her body was retrieved three days later.

Prior to that, the victim and her cousins allegedly had a drinking session, based on the statement of a survivor.