The decomposing body of former Miss Philippines and model Acquene Arradaza was discovered drifting off the coast of Barangay 99 Diit, five days after she was kidnapped.
Acquene Arradaza, 35, was abducted by three armed men while shopping at a grocery store in Ormoc City, Philippines, on July 31.
Police believe the former Miss Matag-ob contestant was murdered, with her hands and feet bound, a stone tied to her body, before the kidnappers threw her into the sea.
According to local media, Arradaza was found on August 4 in a state of undress, gagged, blindfolded, her hands and feet bound, a bicycle lock around her neck, and tied to two sacks to weigh her down to the bottom of the ocean. The victim’s face was covered with a black cloth and wrapped in tape, her body already in the stages of decomposition.
Her body was discovered five days after she went missing. Police said the kidnapping took place on July 31 at a store in Valencia, Ormoc City, when Arradaza was shopping.
A security camera captured footage of a black car with the license plate number 1799 stopping by the side of the road, three men rushing out, overpowering her, and forcing her into the vehicle, which then drove towards Kananga, Leyte. The vehicle was later seen heading toward Tacloban City.
The family only reported her missing on the morning of August 4, the same day her body was found, causing the opportunity for a rescue operation to be missed.
“We could have intercepted the suspects’ vehicle if we received the report earlier,” said Lieutenant Nova Tan, spokesperson for the Ormoc City Police.
Before she was abducted, Arradaza is said to have contacted a man named Pay-ap Drilon.
Police are currently searching for the suspects and investigating the motives of what they believe to be a “deliberate and well-planned” act. The victim’s mother, Vilma Arradaza, is now calling for justice and asking for the help of Filipino politicians to intervene and support the case.