Sun.Star Baguio

EJK ruled out in Dicang’s death

- Maria Elena Catajan Sun•Star Reporter

THE DICANG family asks for time to grieve.

Lower Quirino Hill village chief Van Dicang, who stands as spokespers­on of the clan on Friday morning calmly faced questions on the death of his brother, Vaughn Carl, stressing he was neither bound nor shot or a victim of extra judicial killings.

The older Dicang said his brother was found by relatives in Balacbac after eliciting help from a local high priest, a Mansip-ok

Vaughn was found face down on a rock in the shallow creek with initial autopsy reports showing a cracked skull and a body in advanced stages of decomposit­ion.

The autopsy was finished late Thursday night with its full findings yet to be released after initial police reports reveal Vaughn Carl’s phone tablet was missing.

Van said investiga-

tion of police is ongoing as well as findings of the Scene of the Crime Operatives who processed the area where the body was found.

“He left the house of his friend at 6 p.m. and never came home,” he added.

Vaughn Carl was missing since September 1 after visiting a friend in the Balacbac area and after six days of searching, he was found under the bridge.

Vaugn Carl is a 12th grade University of Baguio Science High School student, described to be a consistent honor roll awardee and a shy silent type.

The local ritual “buyon” was done for the family to locate Vaughn Carl, with offerings made by the mansip-ok and prayers made to reveal a body which was resting on a rock face down surrounded by greenery.

Hours after the ritual, relatives found the lifeless body of Vaughn Carl.

The father of the Dicang siblings will be making his way home from Saudi by next week.

Meanwhile, Dicangs’s death has sent shockwaves as Regional Peace and Order Council chairman and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said, “it is very unfortunat­e, I was informed he is a student of the Science department of UB and it is very unfortunat­e it happened, sayang naman yung buhay at kinabukasa­n ng bata.”

Domogan urged Baguio City Police Office city director Chief Supt. Ramil Saculles to ensure the immediate resolution of the case.

“I hope our police will look into this because if you look at the presentati­on of the crime volume reports here in the RPOC meeting, Baguio City has the biggest percentage in the decrease of crime volume in the region,” Domogan said.

Philippine Informatio­n Agency - Cordillera regional director Helen Tibaldo, a friend of the Dicang’s, said “it is so unfortunat­e that the result of the six day search turned out this way, Vaughn could have had a bright future, our condolence­s to the family,” the director said. With a report from Jonathan Llanes

 ?? Photo by Milo Brioso ?? STAY ON GUARD. The public is urged to be extra vigilant specially at night after a series of crimes in the city. Inset photo is Lower Quirino Hill Barangay Captain Van Dicang a statement following the death of his younger brother Vaughn.
Photo by Milo Brioso STAY ON GUARD. The public is urged to be extra vigilant specially at night after a series of crimes in the city. Inset photo is Lower Quirino Hill Barangay Captain Van Dicang a statement following the death of his younger brother Vaughn.

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