Matubis’ driver’s license recovered from remains

Crime scene investigators recovered from the remains found Saturday in Marpi a wallet containing a CNMI driver’s license issued to missing Filipino surveyor, Alex M. Matubis.

Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lei Ogumoro said yesterday that detectives are currently working on obtaining Matubis’ dental records to positively link the remains to him.

Ogumoro said the remains, mostly just the skeleton, were found in a secluded farm owned by a certain Camacho. The farm is about a 10-minute drive west of Kalabera Cave, where investigators found Matubis’ abandoned vehicle last Aug. 19.

DPS Commissioner Santiago F. Tudela told Saipan Tribune yesterday that, although investigation is still ongoing, their initial analysis seems to show that the victim committed suicide by hanging himself on a cow fence.

Ogumoro said that on Saturday at 11:18am two male farmers reported to DPS that they had found human remains at their farm lot.

Ogumoro said a preliminary investigation showed that one of the farmers was searching for their cows when he discovered a pair of boots and a backpack in the jungle area northeast of the farm grounds.

The farmer then discovered the human remains. He also saw personal belongings near the remains. Police were then immediately called.

Crime scene investigators located a wallet within the deceased’s possession and found Matubis’ CNMI driver’s license.

Since detectives do not have positive identification on the remains, Ogumoro said they are working on getting Matubis’ dental records to match it with the victim’s dentures.

“Detectives are further investigating this case,” Ogumoro said, adding that detectives are still trying to determine the cause of death.

It is not clear yet whether the Attorney General’s Office will agree to an autopsy on the remains.

The DPS spokesperson said that, when found, the remains still had on a light blue inner shirt, camouflage rain jacket, and fatigue pants.

Ogumoro said the case is classified as a dead person and not as a homicide.

The 47-year-old Matubis has been reported missing since July 30 last year. On Aug. 8 or 11 days after the story of his mysterious disappearance appeared in newspapers, DPS received a call that the surveyor was sighted in the Marpi area.

When police responded to the area, they discovered on the same day Matubis’ Toyota pickup abandoned near Kalabera Cave.

Last July 28, Matubis went to Tinian to do some project. The following day, he went back to Saipan. That day, he sent a large amount of money to his wife in the Philippines. He did not return to his barracks, prompting his employer to report to DPS his disappearance.

Malou Matubis, wife of Alex Matubis, earlier told Saipan Tribune when she came on Saipan a couple of months ago that they don’t have a problem because “he is a very religious and supportive of the family.”