MANILA, Philippines?Manila homicide investigators are still piecing together clues to determine how the decomposing body of a middle-aged man ended up Monday afternoon in the Pasig River.

SPO1 Gerardo Rivera, case investigator of the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide section, said the body was spotted floating on the water at around 12 noon Monday by residents of the GSIS Homes along Anonas Street in Sta. Mesa.

He described the man to be between 35 and 40 years old, about 5-foot-two inches tall, clad in a white number 3 basketball jersey that bore the name GERNALE worn over a checkered pair of shorts and barefoot.

Rivera pointed out that the victim?s bloated body bore discoloration on the face and bruises on both arms and appeared to have been dead for more than 24 hours when found.

The body was moved to the St. Yvan funeral parlor for autopsy and safekeeping.

Meanwhile, officials of the MPD are conducting follow-up operations to identify the floater and to determine how he ended up in the river. Azer N. Parrocha, Inquirer trainee