THE body of a man found last week at Barangay Pandanon, Murcia has finally been identified after his family visited the police station Friday morning, December 20.
Murcia Police chief, Police Major Robert Dejucos, said the victim was identified as 24-year-old Christian Diputado, a native of Estancia, Iloilo and a resident of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
According to Dejucos, Diputado’s mother, siblings, and common-law wife Roxanne Esconde visited the town police station and afterwards positively identified the remains.
Based on Esconde’s statement to police, last December 12, their house in San Carlos City was visited by unidentified men wearing bonnets.
The men then asked Diputado’s whereabouts, although he initially escaped and hid in a friend’s house nearby.
The following day, Diputado decided to head to the San Carlos City Police Station, but he failed to arrive in the police station and has remained missing since.
Background checks on the victim also indicate that he was previously arrested on robbery and illegal drugs charges. However, Diputado reportedly denied the illegal drugs allegations claiming the recovered drugs in his possession were planted.
Following the revelations made by the victim’s family, Dejucos said they now strongly believe the incident may be connected to the murder of Muslim leader and businessman Ontao Sacar earlier this month.
Because of the new findings, Murcia police are now coordinating with the Bacolod City Police Office in order to identify the suspects.
Meanwhile, Diputado’s remains were eventually interred at the Murcia Public Cemetery although plans are now being made for his remains to be returned back to his hometown in Iloilo.