The disappearance of a young saleslady in Palawan has sparked amateur sleuthing online as a police investigation into the case dragged for three weeks since she was reported missing.
Since 22-year-old Jovelyn Galleno disappeared Aug. 5 after her shift at a boutique inside a mall in Puerto Princesa City, unconfirmed accounts have filled online platforms, such as on Tiktok, where user-generated videos have been racking up millions of views.
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What happened so far
A Kapuso Mo Jessica Sojo report released Aug. 15 had laid out some of the claims made to authorities, including one from a fisherman saying that he had seen a body floating at sea.
"'Di rin namin ma-verify ang information na 'yan since ang binigay lang na information ng bangkero nga ay maikling buhok, naka-brown na shirt, tapos naka-black na jogging pants. Kung sa mall siya nawala, di natin maano kung mapunta siya sa dagat. Pero may possibilities," coast guard LTSG Gretch Mary Blanca-Aucrio told KMJS team.
The case took a turn Tuesday, after police reported that Galleno's personal belongings were found with a skeleton lying in a grassy area in Purok Pulang Lupa, Brgy. Sta Lourdes.
Among those found were a wallet, identification cards, a vaccination card, and other personal belongings, which the Galleno family had reportedly confirmed were indeed Jovelyn's.
Police said the tip on the location of the remains came from Leobert Agallieno Dasmariñas, identified as Galleno's first cousin, who was the suspect of an Aug. 2 stabbing incident supposedly connected to her disappearance.
Authorities were quoted as saying that Dasmariñas had claimed that he stabbed 42-year-old Jovert Valdestamon, whom he accused of raping and killing Galleno, with him serving as the look-out.
"A complete foresic investigation is underway to assist PPCPO in the investigation including DNA testing and Odontolical Ezamination to determine the identity of the found skeletal remains," police said.
However, in Facebook posts picked up by local media, doctors expressed doubt that these tests would lead to an affirmative result, saying it was not possible for a human body to decline to that state within two weeks.
“From a doctor’s point of view who, at the same time, acts as a medicolegal officer who conducted numerous autopsies, wala pong ganito kabilis na 2 weeks lang bungo at kalansay na agad,” Dr. Eunice Herrera, who works for the City Health Office, said in a Facebook post.
“May certain days, weeks and months bago nadedecay ang body kahit pa iconsider natin ang weather condition ngayon na ulan init. Dapat nasa stage of decomposition palang yan since 2 weeks pa lang naman nawawala,” she added.
Dr. Fi Atencio, a colleague, also shared the same information in a separate post.
“I seldom post regarding social issues, but as a physician, I think it is alright to educate the public," Atencio said, as she explained that in the human body's decomposition process, skeletonization is the last to take place and would occur several weeks to years after a person died depending on weather and condition.
"In cold weather, mas matagal maagnas. Lalo at tag-ulan ngayon dito sa Puerto Princesa. And mas mabilis ang decomposition pag binaon sa lupa because organisms would help breaking down the remains,” Atencio added, justifying her doubt on Galleno's supposed remains.
In the end, Dr. Atencio urged the public to be critical with the information they consume.
"With this info, I hope people would use critical thinking if it is likely possible for an 18 days old remain to skeletonized in rainy weather," she said.
On TikTok, false information concerning the incident abound, including those perpetrated by one account claiming to be Galleno herself.
In several videos viewed over a million times, user @jovelyngallenoo claimed she was being held against her will.
Though many users doubt the account's authenticity, the fake account has managed to attract over 94 thousand followers as of writing.
In a radio interview early Wednesday morning, local police spokesperson Joy Iquin said they were hopeful the remains they found were indeed Jovelyn Galleno.
“Kung mag-negatibo man ito? Sana mag-positive ito kasi may nag-turo eh. Kami naniniwala na ito ay si Jovelyn although hindi pa ito conclusive... Antayin na lang natin ang resulta,” Iquin told Radyo Pilipinas Palawan.
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