Region! Cops hunt down 'suspect' in 'cadaver dumping' in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) said on Tuesday that they are now looking for the last person seen with the victim whose body was later found dumped in a residential area here.

“We have a person of interest and kilala na natin ang suspect (we already know the suspect),” said Col. Glenn Lonogan, BCPO director in a phone interview.

The cadaver, suspected to be a victim of rape, was found in front of a house in a populated residential area in Barangay Tabora on Aug. 29.

“Based on several CCTV footage, we were able to identify the taxi where the victim rode from Marcos highway to her destination,” Lonogan sai d.

He said that the driver’s testimony led them to identify the suspect whose residence was subjected to a search warrant.

The police officer said several blood stains, hair, and a strap of an undergarment were found in the room that the suspect is said to be renting. The owner of the house, however, has not seen the suspect for quite a while.

The blood stains and the hair are now being tested for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) matching with a specimen from the victim.

“He is now a subject of a manhunt while we prepare the document for the filing of the case,” Lonogan said.

The director reiterated that the case was isolated, even as he dismissed rumors of people on board a white van abducting people.

“Wala pong ganyan. Maganda na maging cautious tayo pero iwasan po natin ang pagshare sa social media ng mga unverified information (There is no such thing. It is good to be cautious but let us avoid sharing unverified information on social media),” the officer added.

Col. John Cayat, deputy city director of BCPO, has earlier said: “Lahat ng nareport na missing person noon, nakauwi na ng safe sa mga pamilya nila (All those reported missing have returned home safely).” (PNA)