Local News

Group searching for missing teens recovers body

Lauren Alimondo

LA TRINIDAD -- A cadaver was found floating in the Gayasi River Monday afternoon, September 2.

Members of the barangay volunteers who found the naked body believe that it belonged to one of the teenagers who went missing on August 13.

The volunteers marked Monday, September 2, the 20th day of search operations for the missing teenagers.

La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda said the volunteer group was about to call it a day when one of the volunteers found the body near a rock covered by sacks of garbage.

The body, already in a bloated state, was brought to the morgue. The identity has yet to determined by the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory.

Salda said he was informed that the two families of the missing teens agreed to bury the cadaver after.

He said they have asked for the assistance of the Scene of Crime Operatives for DNA testing. Results of the test will be available after three months.

The two teenagers -- Romel Tadena, 17, and Harley Rufino, 16 -- were onboard a motorcycle crossing the bridge in Gayasi River on the evening of August 13 when they were believed to be swept by strong current.

Days after the two went missing, the jacket and helmet of the victims were found, as well as a backpack and motor oil.

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