DILG: Family requests privacy in DLSU law student’s death

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla — File photo by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The family of a De La Salle University (DLSU) law student who was found dead in Cavite over the weekend has asked for privacy, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Other than the authorities’ initial findings, DILG chief Jonvic Remulla said he could not divulge further information surrounding the student’s death..

“Perhaps contact the family because the family wanted silence on the issues surrounding this case. I’m not at liberty to discuss what the family personally discussed; I’m just providing some details. They asked for privacy,” he said in a press conference.

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Citing the police investigation report, Remulla said the student’s body did not bear any gunshot wounds or injuries from hazing, and his personal belongings — phone and wallet, among others — were also intact.

“To put everyone at ease, we can conclusively say that number one: this is not hazing, number two: no signs of foul play, number three: from the time he left Taguig until his body was found, he had no one with him until the last part of his journey,” Remulla bared in a press conference on Monday.

The DILG chief likewise revealed that the student traveled on his own via Grab and was alone when he entered a resort, as well as the vacant lot where he was found.

“Next to his remains were a bottle of Liquid Sosa and a bottle of milk tea,” he added, referring to a brand of liquid lye primarily used as a drain cleaner.

In an earlier report, the police said the student’s body was found in the stage of decomposition at a vacant lot in Barangay Sapa in Naic around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday.

Authorities said the body was found during the fourth day of police search operations and the backtracking of CCTV footage. His father positively identified the body based on the student’s belongings.

The man reportedly went missing in Taguig City on June 8 but was officially reported to the Taguig City Police Station on June 15. /das