Shallow grave yields man's skeleton

OLONGAPO City — Joint operatives of the Zambales Criminal Investigation and Detection Team, Scene of the Crime Operation, city health and barangay officials retrieved a man's skeleton buried two years ago by unidentified suspects at the shoreline of Purok 6, Nagbakulaw, Barangay Lower Kalaklan, Sunday afternoon.

ZCIDT provincial officer Supt. Christopher Tambungan said the victim was identified by relatives as Rodolfo Daos, 43, of Purok 6.

A report said Juanito Balarag, a cousin of the victim, dug the skeleton by chance.

"Nagbaka-sakali lang kami na maghukay sa nasabing lugar dahil may nakapagsabi sa amin na ibinaon ang aming pinsan malapit sa dagat," said Balarag.

Also recovered from the three-foot grave were a silver ring, a pair of sandal, short pants and a silver bracelet.

Lydia Daos, 64, the victim's mother, said Rodolfo was missing since September 2004 after he went out with two unidentified persons.

The skeleton is now in the custody of the police Crime Laboratory.

Johnny R. Reblando, Peoples Journal