The skeletal remains of a criminology student, who had been missing for two months, were discovered in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.
The victim was identified as 21-year-old John Lawrence Mallapre, a 4th-year student and resident of Brgy. Nuevo in the said town.
According to Police Senior Master Sergeant Juan Batolina of the Libmanan Municipal Police Station, the remains were found on Wednesday, December 18, at around 4 p.m. by a local resident searching for food in a rural part of the barangay.
Due to fear, the resident immediately reported the discovery to barangay officials, but due to heavy rain, verification of the report was postponed.
A follow-up investigation confirmed the incident, and the family identified the skeletal remains as their son based on his clothing and personal belongings.
The victim was first reported missing on September 30 of this year, when he failed to arrive at school and return home.
Authorities noted the remote location of the discovery, explaining why previous searches had not located the body.
While the victim’s family did not mention any potential motives, authorities are not ruling out the possibility of suicide.
An investigation is ongoing, and authorities are awaiting autopsy results to determine if foul play was involved.