LIBONA, Bukidnon — The decomposed body of a woman found lying face down in a stream near a pineapple field in Sitio Buntungon, Purok 6, Barangay Poblacion on Aug. 3 has been identified as 30-year-old Friscela Ongcoy Quijada, authorities said Tuesday, August 4. 

Police said Quijada's brother identified her through several distinctive tattoos on different parts of her body after workers discovered the remains at around 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 3. 

In separate interviews with IFM Radio, Quijada's sister, Jessa Ongcoy, and her estranged husband, John Ray Maquinto, expressed belief that her death may have involved foul play and appealed for a thorough investigation. 

Ongcoy said the body was already in an advanced state of decomposition when the family identified it. 

She also claimed they observed what appeared to be a large bruise on the victim's head and other injuries, leading them to suspect that Quijada may have been assaulted before her death. 

She further said the family wants authorities to investigate Quijada's live-in partner, alleging he had a history of violence involving previous partners. 

These claims were made by the victim's family during the radio interview and have not been confirmed by police. 

No charges have been announced against any individual as of this writing. 

Maquinto, meanwhile, said he and Quijada had been separated and had not communicated for about three months before her body was discovered. 

He said he learned about the incident after relatives informed him that a body bearing tattoos matching those of his wife had been found in Libona. 

He said they had been together for 11 years, married for nine, and have a four-year-old child. 

According to Maquinto, Quijada had been staying in Libona and working at a pineapple plantation before her death. He said the family is hoping authorities will determine the circumstances surrounding her death through the ongoing investigation. 

Police, however, said the body's advanced state of decomposition prevented investigators from immediately determining whether there were injuries indicating foul play. 

Authorities have requested an autopsy to establish the exact cause and manner of death. 

Libona Police, led by Officer-in-Charge PCAPT Erwin James D. Tabequero, said the investigation remains ongoing and that the results of the autopsy will be crucial in determining what happened. (Efren Celocia, Correspondent)