Remains ‘presumptive positive’ as Matubis

The remains found Saturday in Marpi is “presumptive positive” as the missing Filipino surveyor, Alex M. Matubis, according to the acting commander of the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Bureau yesterday.

In an interview with Saipan Tribune, Sgt. Sylvan Rangamar said the CNMI driver’s license and the ring recovered from the remains were linked to Matubis.

Rangamar said the driver’s license was issued to Matubis, while the ring was identified by Matubis’ brother, Arnold, as his brother’s wedding ring.

Rangamar said they are still trying to obtain Matubis’ dental records to positively link the remains to the surveyor.

The CIB commander said there will be no autopsy because the remains are mostly skeletal.

Rangamar said he is still waiting for the complete report about the case from the officer who is in charge of the case.

He added that investigation is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Alex Paga, a surveyor-helper of Matubis since 1990, told Saipan Tribune yesterday that he and Matubis conducted a survey project at the Kalabera Cave area for more than a week last year.

Paga said the survey was made shortly after Matubis arrived from a vacation in the Philippines in June 2008.

A farmer, who was looking for cows, found the remains on Saturday morning at a farm. The farm is about a 10-minute drive west of Kalabera Cave, where investigators found Matubis’ abandoned pickup truck after receiving a call last Aug. 19.

One of three persons who saw the truck told Saipan Tribune yesterday that, contrary to earlier reports coming from DPS, the truck’s hood was actually not hot when they found it.

Rangamar agreed that the hood was not hot, only warm.

Paga also confirmed earlier reports that Matubis was “strangely silent” when he arrived back on Saipan from his vacation. He said Matubis used to be very jolly after coming from a vacation.

In fact, Paga added, when they conducted a survey project on Tinian last July 28, they almost got into an accident because Matubis was not driving attentively.

Paga described his friend as very religious and loving and a faithful husband.

The 47-year-old surveyor came back to Saipan last July 29. He was supposed to go that afternoon to Tinian, but he never showed up. He has been reported missing since July 30 last year.