Stench in Benguet ravine leads to 8 bodies, skeletons

BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippines — Police found six decomposing bodies and two sets of human skeletal remains in a 100-meter-deep ravine on Marcos Highway in Tuba town, Benguet province.

Investigators said the bodies, which could have been dumped there about two weeks ago, were found on Tuesday and Wednesday after villagers at Sitio Poyopoy in Barangay Taloy Sur, Tuba, complained of the stench coming from the ravine.

According to Maj. James Acod, the Tuba police chief, people from Ifugao province had been reported missing by their relatives in the past weeks.

Police said they had yet to determine if the retrieved bodies were victims of summary killing.

In Pangasinan province, three bodies were found floating on rivers in Dagupan City and Umingan town.

Police said the bodies were those of Jerry Soriano, alias “Trexia,” 25, of Binmaley town; Michael Balolong, 24, of Dagupan; and Julio Calaunan of Umingan.

Investigators said the bodies of Soriano and Balolong were found three hours apart after they were last seen during a drinking party on Monday night. —Reports from Kimberlie Quitasol and Yolanda Sotelo