CEBU CITY – Police are investigating the death of a six-year-old boy whose headless body was found on a river in Tabogon town, northern Cebu.
POLICE examine the headless body of a six-year-old boy found on a river in Tabogon town, Cebu province on Jan. 17. (Contributed photo)
John Jio Caballes was in a prone position when he was found in Barangay Kawayan at past 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17.
The boy’s severed head was found about 18 meters from the body, police said.
Police said Elmer Liquin, a 61-year-old resident, found the boy’s body while he was gathering labong (bamboo shoots).
The boy, a resident of Barangay Libju, Tabogon, had been missing since Jan. 9.
Police Staff Sgt. Bernard Navarro of the Tabogon Police Station said they are still awaiting the results of the autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The boy’s 32-old father, Jay-r, told police that they could not think of anyone who would harm his son.
Navarro said some residents described the victim as mischievous but Jay-r described him as a good son and had no known enemies in the barangay.
Jay-r, a widower, reported his son’s disappearance to the police on Jan. 10. He said he last saw his son alive around 11 a.m. on Jan. 9. Jay-r said he was on his way to the farm when he last saw his son together with a neighbor.
He said it was only his three-year-old son who was around when he arrived home.
Jay-r and his neighbors started looking for the boy when he failed to go home overnight.