‘Woman-in-box died from suffocation’

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January 9, 2026 | 12:00am

LAGUNA , Philippines —  The woman who was found in a plastic storage box that was dumped in a river in Basud, Camarines Norte had died from suffocation, police reported yesterday.

Citing results of an autopsy conducted by the Bicol police forensics unit, Basud police chief Mark Anthony Armea said that the victim, identified as Anelis Agocoy, 37, died from lack of oxygen.

The victim’s body bore no sign of injuries, and no stab or gunshot wound, probers said.

Armea said the victim’s partner, Arnel Domingo Jr., admitted that he pushed Agocoy during a quarrel, causing her head to hit a hard object.

Domingo said he was drunk and that Agocoy allegedly tried to stab him with a broken bottle.

Armea said probers would look thoroughly into how the victim died as her body bore no sign of struggle.

He said police would determine whether the victim was still alive when the suspect placed her in the storage box, which may have caused her death.

Probers said the house where the crime occurred had already been cleaned when police came to investigate.

Criminal charges are being readied against Domingo, who surrendered to police on Wednesday.