MALIDEGAO, SGA-BARMM — A decomposing male body was recovered from a river in Sitio Minanga, Barangay Nabundas, Malidegao, Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), on Saturday morning, triggering an ongoing police investigation.
According to initial reports and videos circulated on social media, residents discovered what appeared to be a sack floating along the river at around 10:00 a.m. Upon closer inspection, the sack was found to contain the body of a man already in an advanced state of decomposition.
Video footage uploaded by a local resident showed several villagers struggling to retrieve the sack from the river due to the current and its location. The recovery operation drew the attention of nearby residents as authorities were alerted to the scene.
Police and local government officials immediately responded and secured the area while the cadaver was recovered for proper examination.
Authorities said the victim’s body had already undergone significant decomposition, making visual identification extremely difficult. However, investigators confirmed that the deceased is male and was wearing a white T-shirt at the time his body was found.
As of this writing, the identity of the victim, the cause of death, and the circumstances surrounding how the body ended up in the river remain unknown.
Law enforcement authorities are now appealing to families with relatives who have recently gone missing to visit the nearest police station in the area to help determine whether the recovered body could be their missing loved one. They are also urging anyone with relevant information that could assist in identifying the victim or shedding light on the incident to immediately coordinate with the police.
Investigators are expected to conduct a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death, while forensic procedures and further investigation are underway to establish whether foul play was involved.
The news team continues to coordinate with the local police and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Malidegao for official updates regarding the case.
Authorities have reminded the public to avoid spreading unverified information on social media and instead report any credible information directly to the proper authorities as the investigation continues.