A LIFELESS body found floating Thursday morning, April 27, off the Cagayan de Oro river near City Hall, had already been identified through the identification card retrieved by the police inside the victim’s wallet.
Police Station 1 Inspector Jessie Palencia said the male corpse was that from overseas worker Rafael Macabansag, 49, a resident of Block 11, Lot 28, Soldier Hills, Barangay Bulua, this city.
His body was discovered by Joey Sabanal who went on fishing when he sighted Macabansag’s remains around 8:30 a.m.
Sabanal immediately sought help from the laborers of Advil Construction company to recover the body and reported it to the police.
Along with Police Inspector Romel Madios, Palencia said the corpse was lying face back, arms bent and fists clenched when they arrived at the riverside.
Macabansag's neck and forehead were bruised, though no other injuries were found in other parts of his body.
The victim wore green and orange-striped polo shirt and brown short pants. He was also wearing a silver wrist watch on the left hand.
Upon his discovery, the victim’s relatives told the police that Macabansag had just returned in the country after working for years abroad.
Investigators are also looking into their testimony that Macabansag had told them earlier of his desire to end his life for no apparent reason.
"Sa pagkakaron, wala pa me mahatag nga autopsy report or status if naunsa ba gyud ning si Macabansag, if naa bay foul play. Kamulo pa ang pang imbestiga sa PNP crimelab. (As of now, we cannot give yet an autopsy report or status as to what happened to Macabansag, if there was a foul play. The PNP crime lab has just started to investigate on his body)," Divisoria Police Station commander Senior Inspector Maricris Mulat said.
Macabansag's body was brought to Bollozos Funeral Parlor for autopsy.