Missing UP-Diliman Employee Found in Benguet, Autopsy Exposes Painful Final Moments
UP-DILIMAN – The body of the missing UP-Diliman employee was discovered in Benguet, with a recent autopsy exposing the brutal and painful ordeal she endured before her death.
The body of missing UP-Diliman employee Irene Melican has been discovered in Tuba, Benguet, concluding a harrowing case that began months earlier. In an exclusive report by GMA News’ 24 Oras, the National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) confirmed the tragic details surrounding her death, which they described as extremely painful and violent.
Irene Melican first went missing in June, and her sudden disappearance shocked her family and colleagues at the University of the Philippines. Authorities began an intensive search, and by July, her 38-year-old boyfriend was arrested as a prime suspect in the case.
This arrest marked the beginning of an investigation that would eventually lead the NBI to discover Irene’s remains in a remote area of Tuba, Benguet.
NBI-NCR Regional Director Ferdinand Lavin explained that DNA tests conducted by the NBI, in cooperation with the Tuba, Benguet police, confirmed the identity of the body as Irene Melican. “The conduct was done with the Tuba, Benguet police, the DNA matched doon sa samples, reference materials taken from the parents of victim, Irene Melican. Nagkaroon kami ng closure na ito talaga ang taong hinahanap namin (we had closure that this was exactly the person we were looking for) who was earlier kidnapped by her boyfriend,” Lavin said.
According to the report, the results of Irene’s autopsy revealed that she had endured severe injuries before her death. According to Director Lavin, the autopsy showed that Irene sustained traumatic blunt injuries to her chest and neck, as well as broken ribs on the left side of her body. These injuries indicate that her death was agonizing and the result of brutal physical trauma. The investigation report emphasized that Irene’s suffering was extensive, noting that she was found unclothed and with multiple wounds on her body.
“She died of traumatic blunt injuries to the chest and the neck. Further, NBI was able to establish that she had broken ribs to the left side of the body. She suffered a very painful death,” he added.
As the investigation continues, the NBI is committed to pursuing justice for Irene. The grim circumstances surrounding her death have sparked widespread sorrow and anger, calling for increased vigilance against gender-based violence.
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