By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
with NORA SORINO
and SITA ASEQUIA
of GSD-Iligan bureau .
CRIME scene investigators have concluded that the wife of former Iligan mayor and now Phividec Industrial Authority administrator Franklin Quijano drowned.
In an interview yesterday, Quijano said his family has received the results of the autopsy on the body fished out of the Mandulog River in June 29.
The Quijanos had initially dismissed the possibility that the disfigured body belonged to the ex-mayor’s wife Salma Theresa. But finding no trace of Mrs. Quijano after a month-long search, the family asked crime scene investigators to take a second look and examine the body. The body was exhumed, and the initial finding was that the dental records were nearly a match.
Quijano said Soco also ruled out the possibility of foul play. “Wala may samad, walay bun-og ang iyang lawas sigon sa pag-examine sa Soco,” he said.
Quijano said the Soco found the lungs full of water.
But the former mayor could not say what his wife was doing at the river or how she ended up getting drowned there.
Quijano’s wife went missing June 27. Two days later, the body, already in a state of decomposition, was found floating in the Mandulog River, some 300 meters from her family’s home.
The Quijanos are waiting for the results of a DNA test expected to be released tomorrow. Reportedly, the DNA test results would not be made public by the family.
Her funeral has also been scheduled on Thursday after a mass at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Church in Hinaplanon, Iligan City.
The wake is at the Cosmopolitan Homes where, incidentally, the body of Salma Theresa’s uncle Rafael Gerona was also brought. The latter died of old age July 31.
Salma Theresa and Rafael would be buried at the Maria Cristina Gardens (Pryce Memorial) in Sta. Felomina, Iligan.
“Nagpasalamat ko ug dako sa tanang mitabang sa among pamilya sa pagpangita sa akong asawa, ug salamat usab sa inyong mga pag-ampo nga among madawat ang gidanganan sa among mahal nga kinabuhi,” Quijano said.
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