‘Missing’ soldier found dead in San Enrique creek

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A soldier was found dead three days after he went missing.

The body of Sergeant Ronald Bajade, a member of the Philippine Army’s Quick Reaction Force assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, was found in a creek at Barangay Agutayan, San Enrique, Iloilo 8:30 a.m. of Aug 15.

The 34-year soldier, a resident of Barangay Rumagayray, San Enrique, went missing evening of Aug 12.

His wife claimed that Bajade called her up around 9 p.m. of Aug 12.

The victim said he wanted to get home, but he sought shelter from the heavy downpour.

He did not make it home on the same night and even on the following day.

Concerns that something might have happened to him grew after his motorcycle and mobile phone were found floating in the overflow bridge at Barangay Agutayan morning of Aug 14.

Village officials reported the recovery of the motorcycle at noon of the said day.

After a few hours, his family publicly appealed to help find Bajade.

Senior Master Sergeant Cleo Basulgan, San Enrique police investigator, said they are waiting for the autopsy result on Bajade’s body,

“He could have either died from drowning or got injured after he was swept while crossing the overflow,” he said.

Meanwhile, the 3rd ID leadership said they also want to know what happened to one of their personnel.

“But it’s a police matter. So, we will leave it to the police to determine his cause of death,” Captain Kim Apitong, 3rd ID spokesperson, said.