A decomposing female body believed to be that of a 15-year-old girl reported missing for five days was discovered inside a private compound in Pasig City on March 23.
The remains were found at around 1:53 p.m. during follow-up operations by the Special Investigating Team of the Pasig City Police Station, which had been conducting searches related to the disappearance of Isabelle Sophia Tablate.
The teenager went missing on March 18 and was the subject of an online appeal by her family.
According to the March 24 police report, the body—initially listed only as an unidentified female—was discovered hanging from a tree with a white nylon cord looped around the neck.
Investigators noted that the condition and physical description of the cadaver matched details of the missing minor.
"Her remains were discovered by operatives… and the family positively identified her body," Pasig police chief Col. Hendrix B. Mangaldan told DZRH.
However, the authorities stressed that formal identification will only be established once forensic tests are completed.
The Pasig Emergency Unit conducted an initial medical assessment, followed by the Eastern Police District Forensic Unit which performed technical examinations at the scene.
Authorities said the cadaver will undergo autopsy to determine the cause of death, along with DNA analysis and dental record matching to confirm the victim’s identity.
Investigators are now piecing together how the minor ended up inside the compound several kilometers from her home and whether any foul play was involved.
In its statement, the Pasig police assured the public that “a thorough investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
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