Man found dead on Taal Volcano Island

BATANGAS, Philippines — A man was found dead on a boat buried in ash on Volcano Island yesterday.

The body of the man said to be that of Marlon Deteral was found by a boat owner who returned to the island to dig up his boat, Col. Edwin Quilates, Batangas police director, said.

A report on GMA News said Deteral did not return home after he went to the island to attend a wedding.

However, Quilates said they are waiting for confirmation of the victim’s identity by scene of the crime operatives. 

“Deteral was not reported missing... We’re still conducting an investigation of the recovered body,” he said.

Quilates said a certain Alexander Dando Jr. of Barangay Alas-as, San Nicolas, Batangas was the person reported missing by his relatives since Jan. 12.

Citing ”decreased unrest,” state volcanologists downgraded the alert status of Taal Volcano to level 2 on Friday.

However, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said entry to Taal Volcano island, a permanent danger zone, remains prohibited.