'Baywalk' member found dead

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – Grief greeted the family and friends of a member of the all-female singing group “Baywalk Bodies” who was found dead near the Tabang toll plaza of the North Luzon Expressway in Guiguinto, Bulacan with a gunshot wound in the temple on New Year’s Eve.

Police said the 26-year-old victim, Rejoice Rivera, Dianne Marie Santos in real life, was clad in a gray shirt and denim shorts. She had no identification card as her wallet and cellular phone were missing. Relatives identified her at a funeral parlor here.

Her mother, Nieves Santos, told reporters that she last talked to her daughter on Dec. 28, saying that someone was picking her up from their house in this city.

Mrs. Santos said her daughter’s death was a big blow to their family as she was the breadwinner.

For his part, Lito de Guzman, manager of the Baywalk Bodies, said he could not believe that Rivera is dead.

He said he and Rivera were supposed to meet last Dec. 22 during the wedding of another member of the Baywalk Bodies. But for unknown reasons, they did not meet.

Police said investigation was ongoing to establish the motive behind the killing.