An earlier report stating that the decomposing body discovered in a creek in Sitio Mani, Barangay Topland, Koronadal City was that of missing delivery rider Josel Velasco Piz alias “Oket” was incorrect.
Authorities and the family have since clarified that the body recovered from the area was identified as Julia Delima, 52, a housewife and resident of Purok Pag-asa, Barangay Topland, Koronadal City.
According to the victim’s family, Delima had been suffering from a mental disorder prior to the incident.
Based on reports, the body was discovered around 9:40 a.m. Tuesday after a local resident, identified as Nanay Estelita Monton, noticed a human body floating in the creek while gathering “pako” (edible fern). She immediately informed authorities, prompting a response operation.
The remains were later brought to Subere Funeral Homes, where the family formally identified the victim as Julia Delima.
Meanwhile, the family of missing delivery rider Josel Velasco Piz alias “Oket,” 34, a resident of Purok Mabuhay, Barangay Mabini, clarified that the recovered body was not their missing relative after it was confirmed that the victim was female.
Piz remains missing as of this writing.
The Piz family expressed strong belief that the delivery rider may have been abducted after he was allegedly seen being taken by unidentified individuals on May 20, 2026, the day he was last seen alive.
The Koronadal City Police Station continues its investigation both into the death of Julia Delima and the separate disappearance case involving the missing delivery rider.