New Zealand cops find body believed to be that of Cebuana

CEBU, Philippines - New Zealand media have reported that authorities there have found a body believed to be that of Cebuana Blessie Gotingco, 56, who went missing over the weekend.

One News reported that the body was found at a cemetery in North Shore located less than two kilometers away from Gotingco’s house.

Authorities have arrested a 27-year-old man from an apartment also near Gotingco’s house. The suspect is expected to be brought to court today for murder charges.

The New Zealand Herald also reported that Gotingco’s colleagues at Tower Insurance have been offered grief counseling.

Quoting Senior Sgt. Stan Brown, who is heading Operation Lynsey, the New Zealand Herald reportedly yesterday two scene examinations are underway: At a block of apartments in Monte Casino Place, Brikdale where the suspect was arrested and at the cemetery where the body was found.

Examination at the cemetery is expected to be completed today but examination at the apartment blocks is expected to take several days.

In an interview yesterday afternoon, Gotingco’s father, Max Limcauco, confirmed receiving the report from the New Zealand Police.

“We are shocked. Actually, nandito kami ngayon sa Chong-Hua Hospital. I had to admit my wife here para close lang sa doctors (We are shocked. I had to admit my wife to the hospital so she will be watched closely by the doctors),” Limcauco said.

He said his wife, Virginia, shook after hearing the development.

  He said the police told them there was a 99 percent chance that the body found yesterday was that of their daughter. He said the body was examined yesterday and would be shown to Gotingco’s family post-mortem examination.

“Very slim nalang yung chance na hindi yun ang daughter ko,” he said.

    “Maybe, he is an addict dahil hindi ‘yan usually nangyayari sa New Zealand (Maybe he is an addict because this does not usually happen in New Zealand),” he said, referring to the suspect.

Limcauco commended the efforts of the New Zealand police, describing them as ‘very efficient.’

In an earlier interview with The Freeman, Limcauco said he never imagined something brutal would happen in New Zealand, so much so to her daughter.

“I never imagined that it happened in New Zealand because I’ve been there many times. How come it happened to my daughter nga very peaceful man didto nga place? (I never imagined that it happened in New Zealand because I’ve been there many times. How come it happened to my daughter when the place is very peaceful?)” he added.

He said his daughter has always been “jolly and hardworking.”

“Personally, wala akong alam na nakaaway niya pero marami talaga siyang clients doon (I’m not aware personally if she has enemies but she has many clients there),” Max said.

Gotingco is the eldest of six children and her siblings flew to New Zealand Monday upon hearing the news. Gotingco’s husband who was in Cebu to supervise the construction of their house here flew ahead last Sunday. 

Gotingco was last heard from 6:21 p.m. on Saturday informing his adult son that she would leave her job at 7 p.m. to catch a bus home. However, her daughter who arrived home Sunday dawn could not find her mother, prompting the children to report her disappearance to the Waitemata Police.

Gotingco’s daughter managed to track her mother’s mobile phone via its built-in locator system and found the phone a short distance from their house in Salisbury Road, Birkdale. There, the daughter found her mother’s personal belongings./JMO (FREEMAN)