Aswang Attack in South Cotabato

Boy survives 'aswang' attack 

(RCB/With reports from Ramil Bajo)

SunStar Davao, September 25, 2004

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2004/09/25/news/boy.survives.aswang.attack.html

THE "aswang," a creature that eats human flesh, may be brushed off as a creature of Filipino folklore and a product of the imagination in the olden days, but for a 16-year-old boy in Tantangan, South Cotabato, it is real.

Tata Porras, 16, of Barangay Cabuling in Tantangan, claimed his 14-year-old brother Michael was attacked by an aswang, which he claimed was disguised as a big black dog with red, glowering eyes.

Porras' descriptions aptly fit the physical appearance of the supernatural being who has the ability to transform itself into different forms while devouring a prey.

He claimed that he and his younger brother were sleeping in a small makeshift hut near their ricefield on the evening of September 22, guarding their farm ducks, when the incident happened.

The boys' parents were sleeping in their house just a few meters away from the ricefield.

"Aswang talaga ang nakita ko," Tata said, adding that the big black dog about three feet-high was about to bite the neck of his younger brother when he saw it.

"Nang kakagatin na niya ang kapatid ko, kinuha ko kaagad ang nakatago naming single shot na baril at binaril ko ang aswang (When I saw the 'aswang' about to bite my younger brother, I grabbed our single shot rifle and I shoot the 'aswang')," Tata said.

He said the "aswang" fled and was lost in the dark.

Prior to the alleged attack, Tata said he heard a squeaking sound outside the makeshift hut.

"Papalayo sa tinutulugan naming dalawa yung ingay," the boy said.

Michael was hit in his right leg when Tata fired the shot at the aswang. He was immediately brought to the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH) for medical treatment.

Neighbors who rushed to the boys' location reported hearing Tata shouting, "aswang, aswang!" while pointing to a dark portion of the ricefields.

A local radio station carried the story on air, but some residents refused to believe the story, brushing this off a figment of the boy's imagination.

Others however believe it, citing personal accounts and stories they heard from their friends and relatives living in the allegedly aswang-infested localities in southern Philippines.

Based on the Filipino superstitious beliefs, the usual targets of the aswang are pregnant women and young children. It usually attacks on or before midnight.

Dead woman found in Pasig River

Woman’s body fished out of Pasig
reported by Tina G. Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 05/26/2010
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20100526-272220/Womans-body-fished-out-of-Pasig

A decomposing body of a woman was fished out of the Pasig River after it was discovered by passengers on board a ferry boat Wednesday morning in Manila.

Police described the still unidentified woman to be about 25 to 30 years old, about 5’2” to 5’4” in height and clad in a red blouse, black bra and gray underwear.

Police added that the body of the victim was already in an advanced state of decomposition.

Investigation showed that the body was discovered floating around 6 a.m. Wednesday near Saltug Compound in Barangay 900 Zone 100 in Punta, Sta. Ana.

The ferry boat, filled with about 20 to 30 passengers, was cruising along the river off the shore of Saltug Compound when they saw the body, which they at first thought to be a dead dolphin.

Police said the captain of the ferry boat immediately informed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of their find.

Another Execution?

Body, severed arm found
Reported by Jeannette I. Andrade and Paulo Cuento
Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 18, 2010
http://politics.inquirer.net/politics/view/20100519-270809/MetroBriefs


A SIGN which said “holdaper ako (I’m a robber)” was found on the body of a dead man at the corner of Tayuman Avenue and Anacleto Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila, before dawn yesterday. The victim’s hands were bound while there was a gag on his mouth. The police said he had been strangled to death.

Three hours after the discovery of the body, a severed arm was also found at Sta. Mesa. Case investigator PO2 Lester Evangelista said that barangay officials were on patrol when they spotted a large object wrapped in a white blanket on the sidewalk. The still unidentified victim was described as between 25 and 35 years old, at least 5’ 5” tall, of medium build and dressed in a white T-shirt and blue denim pants. Meanwhile, electrician Danilo Alvarado was on his way to work at a building of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines when he saw a package containing a human arm. He immediately reported his find to the police.

Two abandonded fetuses found in Manila

Fetuses found in Manila
reported by Paulo Cuento, contributor, Philippine Daily Inquirer
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100517-270476/MetroBriefs

Two fetuses were found inside public toilets on separate occasions in Manila on Saturday.

The first one was found at 5:30 a.m. in a public toilet at the corner of Linao and Enriquez Streets in Paco district.

The second was found some 12 hours later in a fast food restaurant. SPO3 Jonathan Ruiz of the Manila Police District homicide section said the first fetus, around five to seven months, was found by 59-year-old handyman Jose Deocariza when he attempted to repair a clogged toilet. He immediately reported his discovery to the police.

The police said they received another call at around 6 p.m. when another fetus was found minutes earlier in the restroom of a fast food restaurant at the corner of Quirino and Taft Avenues in Ermita district. Christopher Agot, a utility personnel of the restaurant, said he discovered the fetus in a bottle that had been placed inside the toilet bowl.

Both fetuses were brought to St. Harold funeral parlor.