Septic tank yields body of woman in Kalibo

ILOILO CITY—Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday recovered the remains of a woman in a septic tank in Kalibo, Aklan, that were believed to be those of the wife of a businessman who was reported missing eight months ago.

John Katipunan, NBI case officer, said the NBI had questioned the woman’s husband, Benny Dy, but the businessman denied involvement in his wife’s disappearance and death.

Katipunan said tests would be made to confirm if the remains were those of Elisa Malacas-Dy. He, however, quoted Elisa’s family as saying they were convinced the remains were those of Elisa because they had Elisa’s shorts and bag.

The remains, said to be those of a woman in her 40s, were found in the septic tank of an abandoned house on Goding Ramos Street in Kalibo past

9 a.m. The house is adjacent to the missing woman’s house.

Benny had reported to police in April that his wife had gone missing. He had also posted notices seeking information on his wife’s whereabouts.

The couple operates various businesses in Aklan, including renting commercial spaces and selling pastries.

The NBI investigated the case upon the request of Elisa’s family who sought the agency’s assistance in Manila.

“We considered her case as a ‘mysterious disappearance’ because of the circumstances involved,” Katipunan said in a phone interview.

Katipunan said the woman found in the septic tank could have been dead for at least six months based on the body’s state of decomposition. An electrical cord was tied around her neck.

He said the NBI has witnesses who saw two men carrying what appeared to be a heavy object near the abandoned house the night before Elisa disappeared.