Boy, 11, found buried in sand in Cauayan

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Police are awaiting autopsy results for an 11-year-old boy found buried in sand in Barangay Tiling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Monday.

Police Lt. Col. Norberto Barniso, chief of the Cauayan Municipal Police Station, said the boy was last seen alive Sunday morning while playing near the shoreline.

Barniso said the family posted on social media later Sunday that the child was missing after he failed to return home.

Barniso said the family did not file an official missing-person report because less than 24 hours had passed, so they instead sought the public’s help through social media.

Barniso said the boy would usually go to the sea to play with friends or gather scrap items.

The boy, a Grade 4 pupil, was found in a sitting position when his aunt discovered him buried.

During the search, the aunt noticed the sand near the shoreline where the child was last seen felt unusually soft, Barniso said.

She asked for help digging in the area, leading to the discovery of the body, he said.

Police Capt. Judesses Catalogo, spokesperson for the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said the family returned to the site Tuesday to re-enact what may have happened before the body was found.

Catalogo said the boy had been playing in the area with companions, who later reportedly left him alone.

Catalogo said investigators have not established whether foul play was involved and are awaiting the autopsy results.

In the Philippines, police can accept a report immediately when a child is missing, and authorities typically advise families to seek help at once rather than wait for a set number of hours.