A 19-year-old student was found dead with at least 10 stab wounds in Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City morning on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

A resident who was on his way to tend to his cow at a grassy area noticed a motorcycle by the road. Upon checking, he found the victim lifeless with his hands tied.

“Pag-anhi nako diri maoy akong nakita nga nagtikungkung didto dapit siya ba nagtakilid kay ginapos man, gipakilid wala na nako doula lantaw nako namuti naman ang lapa-lapa ingon ko patay na gyud na mao tung nilapos ko diri sa battalion,” a resident, Onrado Bara, said.

According to the family, the victim had gone out the previous night to watch the Pasko de Oro launch at the City Hall. He returned home briefly to inform them that he would bring a blanket to his sibling’s house. This was the last time they heard from him until he was found dead.

Authorities launched an investigation to identify the perpetrator and determine the motive.

Among the angles investigators are looking into involves individuals who had reportedly been in conflict with the victim’s younger sibling, raising the possibility that the victim may have been implicated.

Police ruled out robbery as motive since the victim’s motorcycle and other belongings were intact.

“Sa pagkakaron ato sa gyud gisubay ug gipahugtan nga ugali atong panawagan nga kung kinsa man ang naa’y impormasyon o mga kauban nga nakakita o naka-istorya ani atong biktima nga mu-report gyud og mutawag sa atong 911 o sa atong local hotline numbers para ma-assist, matabangan o matagaan og importansya ug mas mapalawman nato ang imbestigasyon,” Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) Spokesperson, Capt. Emilita Simon, said.

His family, however, suspects that the victim may have been killed by someone who has hitched a ride with him.

The victim was reportedly accommodating that way.

“Wala kay kana man gud akong anak basta naa na siyay malabyan dinhi iya manang pasakyon… but-an gyud na akong anak unya kagabii, alas dose naman gyud to nahitabo pagpatungas niya dinhi nagduda mi basin naa siyay gipasakay ba dayun mao na dayun nag (patay sa iya),” the victim’s mother, Geneve Lopez, said.