Pinay found dead in Sabah possibly a homicide victim —DFA

The case of Filipina Madelyn Bernardo Asuncion, whose body was found floating in a river in Sabah more than a week ago, could be a “possible homicide,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

According to a press release from the DFA, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Charles C. Jose said “authorities have informed the Embassy that there was enough evidence to classify the case as a possible homicide.”

Philippine authorities in Kuala Lumpur are now waiting for the official report of the incident and the autopsy result from Malaysian authorities.

Asuncion's body was found by a plantation worker floating in the Pengalan River in Melalap last November 28 and reported it to authorities.

The DFA expressed its condolences to the family of Asuncion, who according to the DFA, was originally from Zamboanga City but had been staying with her father in Malaysia for the past 10 years.

It was her father who assisted authorities in identifying her remains, the DFA said.

She was identified via a tattoo on her thigh, according to a report on GMA News TV's QRT on Friday.

Her body was found unclothed and with stab wounds. Her hair was also shaved.

The Zamboanga-based relatives of Asuncion, who was 30 years old at the time of the incident, are crying for justice and for assistance in bringing her remains home

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration promised to help Asuncion's family even if her application to OWWA already expired in 2016. —KG, GMA News