10 Photos of Acquene Arradaza: Filipino Beauty Queen Murdered and Sunk to the Bottom of the Ocean with Rocks

Acquene Arradaza, a 35-year-old Filipino beauty queen, was found dead floating in the sea near Tacloban City on 4 August 2025. Her body showed signs of a brutal murder after being abducted days earlier.

She was hogtied, gagged, blindfolded, and weighed down by rocks. The shocking circumstances have drawn attention across the region but key details remain unfolding.

Beauty Queen Found Dead at Sea

Local fishermen discovered Acquene's decomposing body drifting near Barangay 99-Diit in Tacloban City. She was found naked and tightly bound with a bicycle lock around her neck and a blindfold covering her face.

Two sacks full of rocks were tied to her, likely to sink the body to the ocean floor. Police Major Shenna Layog described her body's condition as bloated, with tied hands, feet and neck, face wrapped in duct tape, and tongue protruding.

According to The Daily Star, the police Regional Office 8 confirmed that the 'unidentified cadaver recovered from the seawaters of Barangay 99-Diit, Tacloban City, on 4 August 2025, has been positively identified as the same woman earlier reported abducted in Ormoc City.'

They added: 'The confirmation was made through continued coordination between the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) and Ormoc City Police Office (OCPO) following a reported abduction incident in the village of Valencia in Ormoc City on July 31, 2025.'

Chilling CCTV Footage Reveals Abduction Details

CCTV footage revealed Acquene being abducted on 31 July 2025 while buying groceries in Barangay Valencia, Ormoc City. Three armed men forced her into a black Toyota Wigo, which fled toward Kananga, Leyte.

'The victim was reportedly taken by three unidentified armed individuals who forced her into a black vehicle before fleeing in the direction of Kananga, Leyte,' said the police officials via The Sun.

Her family reported her disappearance on 4 August, the day her body was recovered. Police said earlier reporting might have allowed interception of the suspects' vehicle at city borders. The case is under investigation as a premeditated attack, with authorities actively hunting the abductors.

Who is Acquene Arradaza?

Acquene Arradaza was a former beauty queen who won the Miss Matag-ob pageant in Matag-ob municipality. At 35 years old, she worked as a caregiver and was a single mother of three children.

Acquene's family had known tragedy before; her brother was killed during a police drug bust in the same province the previous year. Distinct tattoos on her right abdomen and back helped confirm her identity.

Beyond her pageant career, Acquene lived as a devoted mother and caregiver. Her mother Vilma Arradaza has publicly called for justice, pleading with authorities to bring those responsible to account.

Her loss has deeply affected the family, highlighting the personal tragedy behind the headlines.

Killers Still on the Loose

The three armed men behind Acquene's abduction and murder remain at large. Police units in Tacloban and Ormoc coordinate in pursuing leads and tracking the suspects.

Law enforcement officials stated that the family only filed a report the same day when the body was found. As of writing, authorities urge the public to share any information that might help catch the perpetrators, emphasising the urgency of resolving the case.