Missing man found dead

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A man who was reportedly missing for five days was found dead in a vacant grassy area at Purok Lirio 2, Barangay Taculing here Wednesday morning.

Police Captain Elmer Bonilla, head of Police Station 6, identified the fatality as Arjay Espinase, 25, of Barangay Banago.

Bonilla said that the victim was already in its advanced state of decomposition when found by some residents in the area around 6:44 a.m. yesterday.

He said that the residents smelled a foul odor in the said area, prompting them to check and asked for police assistance when they found the body.

He said that the victim was reported missing by his family last November 22 when he failed to go home that night after he attended a birthday party at Barangay Tangub.

Espinase’s friends told the police that the victim asked them to drop him off at the said area when they were on their way home from the party to meet someone. But, he did not elaborate the identity of the person he was supposed to meet.

Bonilla said that authorities have yet to determine the cause of his death. He will be subjected for autopsy.

He said they have no lead yet on the motive and identities of the perpetrators.

“It could be that the person he was supposed to meet has something to do with his death. It could also be that the victim was killed somewhere and was left there,” Bonilla said.

“If only we could have recovered his cellular phone, we can check the messages and identify the persons he communicated with before it happened,” he added.

Police are still investigating the incident.