Boy, 11, found buried; police cite abuse

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Police said an 11-year-old boy found buried in sand near the shoreline in Barangay Tiling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Feb. 9 showed signs of sexual abuse and died of asphyxia due to strangulation, based on an initial post-mortem examination.

Police Lt. Col. Norberto Barniso, chief of the Cauayan Municipal Police Station, said the Municipal Health Office conducted the examination.

However, Barniso said the findings are not yet conclusive in establishing foul play, noting that a full autopsy is needed to officially determine the cause of death.

Barniso said authorities are urging the victim’s family to allow an autopsy to help strengthen the investigation.

Barniso said the initial post-mortem results may guide investigators, but establishing foul play would also require a key witness.

Barniso said investigators are checking who was seen with the boy before the incident.

Before the boy’s body was discovered, his aunt and cousin warned him to stop digging in the sand near the shoreline because of the potential danger.

They left him alone, and when he failed to return home later that day, his family began searching for him.

His aunt later found him buried in a seated position after noticing the sand appeared unusually soft.

The boy, a Grade 4 pupil, was known to play in the sand while looking for scrap materials.

Barniso said there were no visible signs of a struggle or external injuries on the boy’s body when he was found.

Barniso said police will continue the investigation even if the family refuses an autopsy.