LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A farmer found a body of a 24-year-old woman who was identified through a tattoo on her nape resembling that of Samahang Magdalo logo.
The Samahang Magdalo logo looks like the radiant sun with 16 rays, inspired by Andres Bonifacio's Katipunan logo.
Police reports said Galileo Aluyen, 60, found the corpse of Ruby Cagas last August 7 when he was about to pee in a canal at Klondykes, Camp 3, Kennon Road.
Cagas's body was brought to the La Paz Funeral Homes for autopsy, where she was identified by her sister and aunt.
Cagas was a second year Hotel and Restaurant Services student at the Philippine Women's University in Baguio City and a native of Pungayan, Kapangan.
Police ruled out theft as motive of the killing because the victim still had her pearl earrings, green pendant on his finger, and her black wristwatch. Her handbag was missing though.
Autopsy results revealed that Cagas's death was caused by asphyxiation due to smothering, said Tuba Municipal Police Chief Domingo Yaco Pulic.
Police still has no report whether Cagas was raped.
Police reports said Cagas came from a drinking spree before she died. Dewey Mark Kios, who was with the victim before her death, said the victim was not really intoxicated that time.
Kios said Cagas rode a white Fx taxi on her way home in Maria Basa. He, however, failed to get the taxi's plate number.
Cagas's housemate, May Margaret Daluyen, said she waited for the victim until dawn but Cagas did not arrive. Daluyen tried to call the victim but the cellular phone was out of coverage, prompting her to call Cagas's sister who lives in La Trinidad.
They searched for Cagas until her relatives and friends found her at the funeral parlor. (Ma. Elena Catajan)