Ched Rick Gatchalian

Missing policewoman found dead in Bulacan

Article (news)

Missing policewoman found dead in Bulacan; 8-year-old son still missing

Jeff Caparas

ABS-CBN News

BULACAN — A policewoman who had been missing for more than a week was found dead in Bulacan as the search continues for her missing eight-year-old son. A person of interest is now in custody while investigators are working to determine the motive behind the crime.The victim’s body was discovered at around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in a creek along the Pulilan–Baliuag Bypass Road in Barangay Dulong Malabon, Pulilan, Bulacan. According to police, barangay personnel alerted authorities after noticing foul odor coming from the area.The body was wrapped in cloth, black garbage bags, and plastic, and was in a state of decomposition. Authorities later identified the victim as a policewoman assigned to the Regional Personnel and Records Management Division of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).The victim was positively identified by her husband and sibling through her tattoos and clothing. The Taguig City Police led the investigation after the victim’s husband reported her missing on January 19.Investigators said the victim was last seen on January 16 after she reportedly told her family she was going to Novaliches, Quezon City, accompanied by her eight-year-old son.“I immediately sent an investigator to check, verify. Same thing with the Quezon City Police District. And likewise we also coordinated with the CIDG, the Major Crimes Unit. We also coordinated with the Anti-Kidnapping Group,” said PCol Julius Añonuevo, Chief of Police of the Taguig City Police Station.Authorities declined to disclose why the victim was in Quezon City at the time.“Siguro hindi muna natin sabihin, kasi undergoing investigation tayo, but we will inform you immediately kapag nabuo na namin yung kaso, medyo ide-determine pa namin yung motive, ano ba yung motive,” Añonuevo added.Several days later, the victim was found dead. Her eight-year-old son, however, remains missing.In response, the Southern Police District (SPD) formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to fast-track the investigation and resolution of the case. The police officer identified as the person of interest—who is also the victim’s husband—is currently under the custody of the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section of the NCRPO.“Yung POI po natin ay andito lang po sa NCR and of course tinitignan natin yung involvement niya, kung may involvement siya, and we will try to investigate everything,” said PMGen Anthony Aberin, Regional Director of the NCRPO.The SITG is composed of the Southern Police District, Taguig City Police, Quezon City Police District (QCPD), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the Bulacan Police Provincial Office (PPO).“This SITG is convened to purposely investigate the case of one of our own, a member of the Philippine National Police was found dead in Bulacan, initially she was reported missing on January 19. Immediately, Taguig CPS conducted an investigation with Regional Police Office because our victim was a member of assigned in NCRPO,” said PBGEN Randy Arceo, District Director of the SPD.Authorities are continuing to gather CCTV footage for backtracking and forward tracking of movements related to the case.“Until now we are undergoing investigation, we are preparing the document consolidating the documents coming from PRO3, QCPD, CIDG, the AKG then today we convene the SITG, dito na po sa district natin,” Añonuevo said.

A policewoman who had been missing for more than a week was found dead in Bulacan, as the search continues for her eight-year-old son.

A policewoman who had been missing for more than a week was found dead in Bulacan, as the search continues for her eight-year-old son.