KORONADAL CITY — A 32-year-old public school teacher from Maguindanao del Sur was found dead inside a lodging house room in Barangay Zone 3 here on the evening of April 7, 2026.
The victim, identified only by the alias “Dats,” was a teacher at Datu Mamalu Memorial National High School and a resident of Sultan sa Barongis town.
According to the Koronadal City Police, the victim checked into the lodging house between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. together with an unidentified woman. Initial investigation revealed that the woman left the premises a few hours later and did not return.
At around 6:00 p.m. to 6:40 p.m., lodging house staff repeatedly knocked on the room and attempted to contact the occupant after receiving no response. Concerned, the attendant eventually forced the door open, where they discovered the victim lying lifeless inside the room.
Authorities were immediately notified, prompting a joint investigation by the Koronadal City Police and the South Cotabato Provincial Forensic Unit.
A forensic examination found no visible injuries or signs of violence on the victim’s body, ruling out initial indications of foul play. Investigators are currently considering the possibility that a natural medical condition may have caused the sudden death.
However, authorities emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, including identifying and locating the woman last seen with the victim.
The victim’s remains have been released to the family and are set to be transported back to Maguindanao del Sur.
Police are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward as efforts continue to establish the full details behind the teacher’s death.