73-yr-old woman found dead nearly two weeks after going missing in Ilagan; Cause of death still unknown

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela — A 73-year-old woman who had been missing for nearly two weeks was found dead in a farm in Barangay San Juan, Ilagan City, Isabela, on Monday, October 5, 2026.

The deceased was identified by police as Zenaida Umengan, a resident of Barangay Bangag, Ilagan City.

According to reports from local media outlets in Isabela, Police Lt. Col. Jeffrey Raposas, chief of the Ilagan Component City Police Station, said police were informed after residents discovered the woman’s remains in the area.

Police said Umengan went to their farm on September 23 but failed to return home.

Her family reportedly searched for her after she did not come home, but her whereabouts remained unknown until her remains were discovered at the farm in Barangay San Juan nearly two weeks later.

Initial police information indicated no apparent signs that Umengan’s death was intentional, although the circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.

The family reportedly declined to have her remains subjected to an autopsy. Her body was instead brought to their residence for her wake.

Authorities have yet to release further details on the cause of death as of this writing.

Another missing person found dead days earlier

Umengan’s death came only days after a five-year-old child from Ilagan City was found dead in the neighboring municipality of Sto. Tomas, Isabela.

Guru Press Cordillera earlier reported, citing initial police information, that the child left home to play with two other children on September 30.

Relatives reportedly did not immediately notice that the child had gone out.

After an overnight search involving rescuers and police, the child’s lifeless body was found in the Bagutari River in Sto. Tomas on October 1.