CEBU, Philippines – The police on October 30 retrieved the skeletal remains, believed to be that of a human being, which were found by bat hunters early morning of October 23, in a forest between the boundaries of Barangays Apolong and Lunga in Valencia town of Negros Oriental.
The bat hunter Aquilio Bantug Anqui Jr., with companions Richard Tubil, and a certain Clinthon, Polboy and Bobort found the skeletal remains at sitio Tubigabi on a sitting position,
They reported the discovery on October 26 after which the police organized a team, headed by Senior Police Officer 2 Elino dela Zerna, to retrieve the bones last Sunday.
Retired municipal health officer Rosita Muñoz, now working part time at a Valencia clinic, can only surmise the remains could be more than five years in the site, and—in the absence of any tissue from the body, could be that of a male person based on the bones of the limbs.
The skeletal bones are complete except for the bones in the breast and Muñoz could not explain why.
Chief Inspector Alfonzo Enriquez, Valencia Police chief, refused to believe the skeletal remains found in the forest was that of a salvaged victim. He said there was no report of any missing person since he assumed as chief of police almost two years ago, and records of even five years ago.
Recovered from the scene were empty bottles, a cap, a pouch with few P1 and P10 coins, two lighters, and slippers, among others.
Enriquez said the skeletal remains were found deep in the forest at the back of Mount Talinis, which is unlikely to be reached by climbers, except for residents near the surrounding barangays, to include the bat hunters.
The police was accompanied by Apolong village chief Clito Lorico, four of his barangay councilmen, tanods, and municipal public safety officers, in retrieving the skeletal remains. (FREEMAN)