MATALAM, COTABATO – Residents of Barangay Estado were shocked on Sunday morning, August 17, 2025, after discovering a decomposing male body near a swamp close to a creek in their area.
According to witnesses, they were on their way to a nearby swamp when they noticed a foul odor. Following the stench, they stumbled upon the remains of a man clad only in green shorts and without a shirt. Disturbingly, the body was already in an advanced state of decomposition and was found without a head, releasing a strong, nauseating smell.
Authorities have yet to establish the identity of the victim. Some residents speculate that the body may have been washed down from another area, possibly from a neighboring barangay such as Kamarahan, though this has not been officially confirmed by local officials.
Barangay officials are urging families with missing relatives to coordinate with them or the police for possible identification of the remains.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Matalam has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances behind the death. As of press time, no foul play has been confirmed, but the gruesome discovery has left the community alarmed and seeking answers.