An unidentified male was found lifeless in a rice field in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Igpit, Digos City, Davao del Sur on Wednesday evening, May 27, prompting authorities to launch an investigation to determine his identity and the exact cause of death.
According to the Digos City Police Station, the body was discovered at around 8:30 p.m. by a resident who was conducting “panulo” or frog hunting in the rice field area. The reportee, identified as Meo Malinao alias “Ron2,” 38 years old, married, a construction worker, and a resident of Purok Komintang, Barangay Tiguman, immediately informed Barangay Captain Salboro after making the grim discovery.
Police personnel from Mobile Patrol Vios 2 led by PSSg Eblamo and Pat. Gabo were then conducting police visibility operations at Prime Hotel in Barangay Tiguman when they received the report at around 8:50 p.m.
Authorities immediately responded to the scene and secured the area with police lines while crime scene investigators from the Davao del Sur Forensic Unit, led by PEMS Phillip Llameg, processed the area.
Initial police investigation revealed that the victim was found curled up in the rice field and was wearing black pants, black rubber shoes, a gray sweatshirt, and a white bull cap. Despite the suspicious circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body, investigators said there were no visible injuries or signs of struggle found on the victim.
Police investigators, including PMSG Joel Ong of the Digos City Police Station, said there were no indications of foul play based on the initial assessment. Authorities are currently looking into the possibility that the man may have died due to an underlying medical condition or natural causes.
However, police emphasized that a deeper investigation is still ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the death.
The unidentified man’s body was later transferred to Padilla Funeral Parlor in Barangay Aplaya, Digos City, where it remains pending post-mortem and autopsy examination.
Authorities are now appealing to families with missing relatives to coordinate with the Digos City Police Station in hopes of identifying the deceased.
The incident has drawn concern among residents in the area, particularly those living near the rice fields of Barangay Igpit, as police continue efforts to uncover the identity of the man and determine what led to his death.