TUAO, Cagayan – An 11-year old boy who had been missing for six days was found in the river bank of Chico River in barangay Fugu, Tuao, Cagayan on Sunday, June 12.
Staff Sergeant Wilson M. Pascua, officer-on-case, said that the victim Jake Bacaya, a grade 4 student, was believed to have drowned in the river in Brgy. Taga, Pinukpok, Kalinga on June 6.
Police theorized that after the boy drowned in Brgy. Taga in Pinukpok town, the body floated and was carried off by the water all the way to Brgy. Fugu in Tuao town where his body was found.
“May mga kasama din ito na mga bata na naliligo doon pero sa kasamaang palad ay nalunod at ilang araw na rin itong pinaghahanap, natagpuan lamang nitong Hunyo 12 sa kabilang probinsiya ng Cagayan,” Pascua told Manila Bulletin.
Sergeant Pascua said that the body of the victim traveled at least 30 kilometers in the river in Pinukpok town, Kalinga to Brgy. Fugu, Tuao, Cagayan.
On June 12, 2022 at around 7:30 a.m. Barangay Captain Edgar Sedano of Brgy. Fugu, Tuao, Cagayan called the Tuao Police Station to inform them that a male cadaver was found at the river bank of Chico River.
It was a certain Mario Romero who reported to the barangay captain the cadaver he saw in the river bank.
Romero, who was pasturing his cow near the grassy portion of the river, said the cadaver was already in a state of decomposition.
Mike Bacaya, 47, of Brgy. Taga, Pinukpok, Kalinga learned about the recovery of a cadaver in Cagayan and positively identified the cadaver as his son Jake.
The cadaver was turned over to his family.