Dehydration killed 2 missing boys in Taguig - police

MANILA, Philippines - The two boys whose decomposing bodies were found inside a Mercedes Benz parked in a lot in Taguig City on Tuesday, died from dehydration and may have been child-locked inside the sedan.

"Initial findings disclose that the kids may have died inside the car due to severe dehydration and may have been child locked inside," said SPD director Jose Erwin Villacorte.

Villacorte said an autopsy on the bodies of Dayne Buenaflor, 3; and James Naraga, 4; have already been conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation at the Loreto Funeral Homes in Lower Bicutan.

According to Villacorte, the SOCO investigation will take at least one week to complete.

Buenaflor and Naraga were found inside a heavily tinted black 190 E Mercedes Benz (UGX-606) parked inside a fenced lot owned by Leonardo Valenzuela along Dama de Noche Street at about 10 a.m. Buenaflor is the nephew of Barangay Wawa captain Phillip Buenaflor.

Police said the bodies were found by three boys who were asked by Butch Valenzuela, the lot owner's brother, to clean the lot. The Mercedes Benz is owned by Butch, police said.

Taguig City Police chief, Senior Superintendent Arthur Felix Asis, told reporters that the bodies were found after the boys asked to clean the lot smelled something foul from inside one of the cars. They then approached the Mercedes Benz and slightly opened the driver's door.

Smelling a strong foul odor, the boys then informed Butch who opened the rear doors and found the decomposing bodies of the victims at the backseat. One of the boys was seated "Indian style" while the other was on a prone position.

Asis told reporters that shortly after the two boys were reported missing while playing near the barangay hall of Barangay Wawa at about 10 a.m. last March 27, their parents looked for them at the lot where the cars were parked but they were not seen.

"Ayon sa mga magulang, sinilip din nila ang lugar na ito pero nung sinilip nila ang mga sasakyan, ay wala naman silang nakitang tao o bata sa loob. So ngayon lang sila nakabalik at confirmed na mga anak nila ito," said Asis.

Asis said that it is possible the missing boys were playing at the lot when they accidentally locked themselves inside the car and were not able to get out. However, Asis added that the case would still be investigated.

He said that initial investigation showed that the bodies of the missing boys bore no signs of struggle.

"wala tayong nakitang tali o bakas na parang may struggle. malalaman yan sa resulta ng SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives) investigation," he said.

Police said the bodies of the missing boys were identified by their parents through the clothes they were wearing. Asis said the bodies of the missing boys were so badly decomposed and "compressed."

"It appears na naka-child lock nga yung sasakyan. According sa may-ari nung kotse, 'pag na lock yung sa driver's side, one by one maglock na yung ibang locks," said Asis.

"Although the SOCO has still yet to submit its report, it is very probable that dehydration is the cause of death. March and April are the hottest during summer," Asis added.

Asis said investigators are still trying to find out from which door did the boys enter the car as they were both discovered at the back seat.

He said Butch told them that the locks of the car were damaged by floods during typhoons Onday and Habagat and these were already malfunctioning.

Asis added that Butch only decided to have the lot cleaned on Tuesday morning as he was also planning to have the Mercedes Benz repaired.

According to Asis, although the lot where the used cars are parked is padlocked, children can enter it by climbing the fence and then use it as their playground. The lot is near the barangay hall of Wawa.