Body of ex-councilor fished off from river

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Soldiers fished off from a river in Pikit town in North Cotabato the body of the missing treasure hunter, Saturday, an official said.

Colonel Prudencio Asto, head of the Public Affairs of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said their troops recovered from the Rio Grande de Mindanao the body of Eddie Jesus Apostol, former town councilor of Magpet, also in North Cotabato.

The victim sustained two gunshot wounds in the head and was found hogtied, according to some operatives of the Army’s 5th Special Forces.

Apostol, according to Magpet Mayor Efren Pinol, went to Pikit town on August 29 to do some treasure hunting.

“Apostol rode on his brand new Honda XRM but did not return to his place after that,” said Pinol.

Allegedly, somebody informed Apostol about bright prospects of finding treasure somewhere in the marsh.

What surprised soldiers when they fished Apostol from the river was the press ID that they recovered from the victim’s wallet.

The Army immediately sought help from some media friends to find if the victim was indeed member of the press.
“I do not know if he was a member of the media,” said Pinol.

Authorities hinted Apostol could have been duped into treasure hunting in Pikit where he was divested of his cash, including his brand new motorcycle, before he was killed.