Hunter's head found in Vizcaya hinterlands

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The severed head of a suspected animal hunter was found in an extremely remote mountain area along the Nueva Vizcaya-Nueva Ecija border the other day.

Reports indicated that the head of one Sandy Asislo, 38, said to be from this province, was found by residents in Binbin village, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Monday. 

The victim’s headless body, reportedly riddled with at least seven gunshot wounds, was earlier discovered in mountainous Biruk village, Dupax Del Sur town here.

According to reports, the victim had gone hunting on Jan. 16 reportedly along the Nueva Vizcaya-Nueva Ecija hinterlands in the southern Caraballo mountain range, but failed to return since then. 

The area where Asislo’s severed head and body were recovered was said to be once traditional hunting ground of the now peaceful and gentle Bugkalots or so-called Ilongots during the olden days.

During the bygone era, historians claimed that the Ilongots were known to be fearsome warriors who allegedly resorted to head-hunting if provoked, or when their territory was threatened by invaders or strangers.