CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Family members and friends are calling for swift justice following the brutal killing of a graduating accounting student whose decomposing body was discovered inside a locked room at a boarding house along Gomez–Burgos Streets in Barangay 7, Cagayan de Oro.
Police confirmed that investigators are now looking into at least two persons of interest in connection with the death of the student, identified as Bia. Authorities said one of the individuals being investigated is a personnel assigned to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) under a job order position as a utility worker.
According to investigators, the person of interest reportedly last reported for work on February 17, 2026 and has not been seen or contacted since then. Authorities are currently trying to locate him as part of the ongoing investigation.
The victim was discovered inside a locked room rented by the person of interest in the boarding house. Police said the student sustained a stab wound in the neck, indicating foul play. Reports also indicated that the body was already in a state of decomposition when it was found, suggesting that the victim may have been dead for several days before the discovery.
City police director Dexter Paje confirmed that two individuals are currently being treated as persons of interest while investigators continue to gather evidence and determine the circumstances behind the killing. One of the boarders being investigated allegedly has a record linked to illegal drugs, authorities added.
Initial accounts from local officials also raised questions about how the victim ended up inside another tenant’s room. A barangay tanod, Brando Sinagoña, said the victim was reportedly renting Room 12 in the apartment but was found dead inside Room 1, which was rented by another boarder identified only as “Ian.” The door to the room was reportedly locked when the body was discovered, further deepening the mystery surrounding the case.
The tanod added that attempts to contact the Room 1 occupant—who was said to be working with a USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) team—have so far been unsuccessful.
Investigators are also reviewing the timeline leading up to the discovery of the body. Reports indicate that the victim was last seen alive around Valentine’s Day before she was later found lifeless inside the boarding house days afterward.
Authorities are continuing forensic examinations and witness interviews to determine the motive and sequence of events that led to the killing.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family and friends are urging law enforcement to expedite the investigation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Community members have also expressed concern over safety in boarding houses and called for stronger monitoring and security measures to protect students and residents in the area.
Police assured the public that a manhunt and deeper investigation are ongoing as they work to bring justice to the victim and her grieving family.