Missing Negros boy found dead after 22 days

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — An 8-year-old boy was found dead on a riverbank along the boundary of Barangays Damutan and Bacuyangan in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, on Friday, June 12, 22 days after he went missing in a forest on May 21.

Police Maj. Eric Doronilla, chief of the Hinoba-an Municipal Police Station, said the boy’s aunt asked authorities on May 29 to help find her nephew after relatives spent a week searching for him.

Doronilla said the boy’s aunt had asked him to look for betel leaves, locally known as “buyo,” on May 21.

The boy was accompanied by his uncle.

His uncle managed to return home, but the boy did not.

Relatives initially believed the boy got lost.

Doronilla said both the boy and his uncle had mental disabilities and were usually asked to do simple tasks.

After receiving the report, Doronilla said police tapped local residents and other rescuers to help find the missing boy.

The boy’s uncle also joined the search but could no longer remember the area where he last saw his nephew alive.

Doronilla said the search was difficult because of the dense forest and rugged terrain.

He said rescuers had to create a temporary trail and use rope as a guide in the area.

On June 11, local residents found the boy’s decomposing body on a riverbank.

Because of the distance and safety concerns, authorities retrieved the body the following day.

Doronilla said the boy had turned 8 on June 9, three days before his body was retrieved.

He said the boy had been under the care of his aunt for years.

The boy’s parents said they did not suspect foul play and believed he may not have survived after days without food in the forest.

Doronilla said the family declined an autopsy.