An incoming Grade 5 student was found dead at a creek in Barangay Basak, Mandaue City, Cebu.

The body of the child, Erica Cabatingan, 11, was found early morning on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, a day after she left home.

The night before, her mother, Ruby Rose, went on social media to ask if anyone had seen her daughter.

She suspected that her daughter may have had a seizure on her way home from her aunt’s house, and fell into the creek.

Erica reportedly had episodes of seizure in the past and they would often hug her and let her sit until she recovers.

“Seizure niya, oo… amo man gyud na siyang gakson kung atakehon na siya amo gakson, mokurog-kurog siya, amo ipasandig apan dili ipahigda mao tingali na iyang nakuanan,” Ruby Rose said.

For its part, the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) said it would look into all possible angles, including the possibility of foul play, on top of Erica’s medical history.

“Nagpalawom pod ta sa mga kinsay nakakita, naa bay nabantayan sa area kay basin daw pod, og unsa… posible panghitabo sa kamatayon… ato i-check ang tanan,” said PL/Col Mercy Villaro, Information Officer of MCPO.

MCPO has recommended that Cabatingan’s remains undergo an autopsy.