Panglao, Bohol – An apparently ancient skull and a spear were discovered in Barangay Poblacion, Panglao, Bohol on Sunday, September 3, 2023. The discovery was reported to the local authorities by a resident who found the items while digging in his backyard.
According to Panglao Mayor Boy Arcay, the skull and the spear are believed to be very old and could be of historical significance. He said that they could not determine the gender of the skull because it was broken. He also said that they would conduct further investigation and coordinate with the National Museum of the Philippines to identify the origin and age of the items.
“We received information that a skull and a spear were found. We trace that it is in Brgy. Poblacion. But we can’t tell if the bone is male or female because it has been broken. I was then endorsed by the police to be investigated and then to the church so that it could be buried in the right grave,” Mayor Arcay said in a statement.
The mayor was accompanied by Panglao Chief of Police PMAJ Andie Corpus, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) head Abel Arbilo, Municipal Development Planning Office (MDPO) head Jairus Fuderanan, and Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) Cecelio Nisnisan when he visited the site where the skull and the spear were found.
The mayor said that they would respect the cultural and religious beliefs of the people and would ensure that the items would be properly handled and preserved. He also urged the public to report any similar findings to the authorities and to refrain from tampering or selling them.
“We have seen that it has been quite a long time. We hope that this discovery will shed light on the history and culture of our town and our province. We also appeal to our fellow Panglaonons to cooperate with us in protecting and preserving our heritage,” Mayor Arcay said.