Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte – Police have recovered the decomposing body of a construction worker who had been missing for several days, identifying him as Daniel Navarro Datulayta, 35, a resident of Barangay Kalawag 2, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
At around 5:00 p.m. yesterday, Datulayta’s remains were found stuffed inside a sack and buried in a shallow grave in Sitio Mapayag, Barangay Bitu. Initial police investigation revealed he sustained multiple hack wounds and had been dead for days after going missing on September 15. His body was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
Authorities acted after receiving information from a concerned citizen that a man had been buried in the area. Responding police officers from the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station, led by Police Lt. Col. Esmael Madin, verified the report, while Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) processed the crime scene.
Police arrested one suspect identified as Palao Bangon Mlok, 33, a farmer and resident of Sitio Mapayag. Confiscated from him were an improvised 12-gauge shotgun, a Rusi 125 motorcycle, the victim’s identification cards, and the motorcycle’s registration papers. Police records also revealed Mlok has previous involvement in illegal drugs.
During interrogation, Mlok admitted his role in the crime and named five other accomplices: Tatang (28), Joco (25), Ato (27), Ronie (27), and Guid (22), all farmers and residents of Barangay Bitu. They remain at large.
Investigation showed that Datulayta, who was reportedly drunk, crashed his motorcycle before the suspects found him. Instead of helping, the suspects allegedly stole his motorcycle, bag containing money and cellphone, and then hacked him to death before burying his body.
Mlok is now detained at the police custodial facility and faces robbery with homicide charges, along with his accomplices who are still being hunted down.
The victim’s remains have since been turned over to his family for burial according to Islamic tradition. Police said pursuit operations continue to bring the remaining suspects to justice.