Dead man found at “Sayote” Plantation in Ambiong, La Trinidad; Cause of death under probe

La Trinidad, Benguet — A man who was last seen the night before was found dead on Monday, February 16, in a remote chayote (sayote) plantation in Ambiong, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Police reports obtained by several local media outlets indicated that the body was discovered by the plantation owner. The victim’s name was withheld by authorities to protect the family’s privacy.

The owner later notified the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station, which requested assistance from the town’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to retrieve the body.

Responders traveled approximately 7.5 kilometers, including a portion on foot, before reaching the site. Upon arrival, the man was found lying on his side with one hand hooked onto a small tree and was reportedly already in a state of rigor mortis.

The body was secured using a Stokes basket and spine board before being carried to an accessible area. The retrieval operation was completed at around 2:30 p.m., with assistance from the PNP Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and a barangay official of Ambiong.

Initial information from the barangay revealed that the 57-year-old was last seen alive on the evening of February 15 after reportedly drinking in the area.

As of this writing, an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of death.