An employee of the University of the Philippines – Diliman, missing for five months, was found dead in Tuba, Benguet, it was learned on Wednesday.

The National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) said the victim, Irene Melican, 35, suffered a “very painful death,” according to an exclusive report by John Consulta reported by 24 Oras.

In July 2024, NBI agents arrested Melican’s 38-year-old boyfriendwho is suspected of the victim’s kidnapping and subsequent disappearance.

Melican was last seen alive in June. Authorities recovered her cell phone, credit cards and car, but she was never found.

The NBI found Melican’s body in Tuba, Benguet. Investigators said his naked remains had several injuries.

“The conduct was carried out with the police of Tuba, Benguet, the DNA was compared with samples, reference documents taken from the parents of the victim, Irene Melican. Nagkaroon said this is exactly the person we were looking for) who was kidnapped earlier by her boyfriend,” said Ferdinand Lavin, regional director of the NBI-NCR.

The NBI said the suspect and victim were seen together last June riding in Melican’s sport utility vehicle. They were spotted in Agoo, La Union before heading to Benguet.

Based on the forensic report of the Philippine National Police and an autopsy performed by the NBI, Melican met a tragic end.

“She died from blunt force injuries to her chest and neck. Additionally, NBI was able to establish that she had broken ribs on the left side of her body. She suffered a very painful death,” Lavin said.

Authorities conducted a search inside the suspect’s house in Pateros. Here they discovered a large number of snakes and rats in several boxes along with the victim’s personal belongings and other people’s valuables.

“The NBI will try to establish kung saan eksakto pinatay, at kung sino sino ang pumatay, ilang tao ang pumatay (establish where exactly she was killed, who killed whom, how many people killed her). For now, Director (Jaime) Santiago is still in charge of this matter,” Lavin added. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News