Missing Negros Occidental Farmer Found Dead in Negros Oriental

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The decomposing body of a 51-year-old farmer reported missing in Ilog, Negros Occidental, was found Monday in a sugarcane field in Sitio Kabangahan, Barangay Mandu-ao, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

The victim was identified as Alberto Balansag, a resident of Barangay Talakdan Proper in Ilog town.

Police Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said Balansag’s body was dumped in a secluded area but was not killed there.

A firearm was recovered at the scene, but authorities are still verifying whether it belonged to the victim or was left by the suspects.

Polinar said the Bayawan City Police Station is coordinating with the Ilog Municipal Police Station to identify possible suspects.

Police Maj. Randy Babor, Ilog police chief, said the victim’s wife reported that her husband was allegedly abducted by four unidentified men while they were waiting for a bus in Barangay Tabu, Ilog, at around 6 p.m. on March 18.

She later posted about the alleged abduction on social media in hopes of finding her husband.

Babor said the victim had no prior criminal record with their station.

He added that Bayawan police accompanied the victim’s wife to the Ilog Municipal Police Station on Tuesday, a day after the body was discovered.