In this photo taken on October 1, 2020, residents swim at a beach in Borocay, Malay town, Aklan. AFP/File

MANILA — The Slovak national found dead in Boracay Island, Aklan, appeared to have been sexually abused and suffered blunt force trauma to the head, police reported on Monday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño confirmed that the 23-year-old victim was discovered in a room of an abandoned chapel on the island.

Tuaño said the Philippine authorities were coordinating with the Consulate of the Slovak Republic in the Philippines regarding the case.

According to an earlier report from the Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas), the victim, who had been reported missing on March 10, was found dead two days after inside the abandoned chapel at Zone 3, Sitio Pinaungon, Barangay Balabag, Malay town

When police responders arrived at the scene, they found the unclothed decomposing body of a woman. 

Slovak woman found dead at abandoned chapel in Boracay

The Malay police took two persons of interest into custody, while nine witnesses provided statements to authorities, Tuaño said in a media briefing at Camp Crame. 

The victim, identified as Michaela Mickova, had arrived on Boracay Island on March 1 to attend the wedding of a Filipina friend. She had been staying at a local resort, a popular destination for tourists.

Police said Boracay was safe despite Mickova’s death.

"This is the first time. Saka hindi naman talaga nangyayari — wala naman talagang ganitong mga pangyayari (This is not something that really happens there)," Western Visayas police chief Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky said.

"Walang ganoong insidente in the past. Ngayon lang po nangyari (There were no similar incidents in the past, this is the first time)."