1 month ago
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CARCAR CITY, Cebu — The family of Miguela Pocong Barino — an 83-year-old woman found decapitated in Barangay Candabong in Dumanjug town in Cebu — is urging authorities to reopen their investigation, expressing doubts over police findings that her pet dogs may have severed her head.
Emedio Pocong, the woman's 80-year-old younger brother, is skeptical that Barino's four dogs could have caused such an injury, adding it is unlikely for a person who has been dead for two days to have his or her head naturally separate from the body.
He suspects that his sister may have been murdered.
Until her mysterious death, Barino had been living alone in her mountain home since the death of her husband a decade ago. With no children of her own, she relied on relatives for support.
Pocong also raised concerns that his sister could have been a victim of robbery, recalling that she and her husband had previously been engaged in a lending business.
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Barino's body was discovered on Saturday by her 9-year-old great-grandchild, who had been sent to run errands for her.
The child found her lifeless body near the door of her home, with her severed head resting at the bottom of the stairs.
Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) determined that she had been dead for at least 48 hours, with decomposition accelerated by extreme heat.
Despite the disturbing condition of the body, police initially ruled out foul play. Investigators found no signs of forced entry, and her cash and jewelry remained untouched.
Cpt. Eden Rex Baguio, chief of the Dumanjug Police Station, previously suggested that Barino may have died from a heart attack or a fall.
He also said it was possible that her dogs, left in isolation for days, could have disturbed her body after death, resulting in the severance of her head.
SOCO findings showed no indications of struggle, except for a scratch on the lower part of her cheek. Barino's body was later buried at the Ronda cemetery.
However, Barino's niece, Nene, raised concern over another detail that puzzled the family, that is, her aunt's hair had been removed from her head.
Notwithstanding the family's growing doubts, authorities maintained that there was no foul play in the death of the woman.
Col. Jovito Atanacio, head of the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO), issued a statement clarifying that evidence gathered by investigators and SOCO pointed to an unfortunate but noncriminal incident.
He urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic.
Meanwhile, Dumanjug police are working with local animal welfare groups to assess the condition of Barino's dogs to ensure they receive proper care.
Investigators believe that prolonged isolation may have led the dogs to disturb the body.
Two of Barino's dogs had recently given birth to puppies.
Despite the police's conclusions, Pocong and other relatives remain unconvinced. They continue to question the unusual circumstances surrounding Barino's death, including the severed head, missing hair, and untouched belongings.
The family is urging authorities to take a closer look at the case, hoping to uncover the truth behind her tragic death.
