Body found in river confirmed to be Filipina

KOTA KINABALU: The identity of the Filipina found dead in a river has been confirmed as Madelyn Bernardo Asuncion (pic) about a week after Facebook users and friends paid tribute to her on social media.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in a statement on Saturday expressed its condolences to her family.

Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose said authorities had informed his embassy there was enough evidence to classify the case as possible homicide.

The embassy is waiting for an official report and autopsy results.

Asuncion’s father helped identify her remains.

Tenom police chief Deputy Supt Tusib Tulas said the case was still officially classified as sudden death pending the post-mortem results.

A plantation worker alerted police after discovering Asuncion’s decomposing body floating in the river at about 7am on Nov 28.

One of her legs was entangled with a water pump structure belonging to a plantation company.

The photos of the incident went viral, and she was identified by social media users through the tattoos on her arm and leg.

Checks revealed she was linked to three Facebook accounts under the names “Candize Bernardo Asuncion”, “Madelyn Bernardo Asuncion” and “Quel Asuncion”.

However, there were hardly any details on what she was doing in Malaysia.