Investigators in the Philippines have recovered the body of a man whose dental records preliminarily match those of a Kaua'i man who disappeared there in May, law enforcement officials said.

After requesting dental records from the family of John Elwin of Kaua'i, Filipino officials have tentatively matched them with those from an unidentified body with a single gunshot wound to the head found about a month ago in a province several hours outside of Manila.

Forensic investigators with the U.S. Navy's Criminal Investigation Section are performing further tests in the Philippines before officially declaring a match, according to law enforcement officials who declined to be identified because the investigation is ongoing.

City Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter yesterday said he is aware of the information but declined comment, saying Elwin is still classified as missing.

"I can't comment on that information because we're at a critical point in the investigation," he said yesterday.

Elwin traveled to the Philippines in late April to examine an apartment he bought.

Kirsten Flood, Elwin's live-in girlfriend of the past five years, said she doesn't know what to think.

"I don't know how to feel about it until I get confirmation. There is so much speculation," she said yesterday from her home in Kaua'i. "If that is the case (and Elwin is dead), I hope we can bring John home and put him to rest, and that was my intention from the very beginning. I just want him home. Hopefully they did get it wrong."

The Philippine government requested a copy of Elwin's dental records in June, according to court documents.

No homicide investigation has been initiated, police said.

Honolulu police are looking into whether a man arrested on suspicion of stealing Elwin's identity might have information about a Honolulu man who disappeared after also traveling to the Philippines on a business deal more than a decade ago.

Henry Ponce Jacinto Calucag Jr., also known as Hank Jacinto, is being held without bail at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center on charges of first-degree identity theft, first-degree theft, and second-degree forgery in connection with the alleged theft of $200,000, a parcel of land, credit cards and a half-dozen polo horses from Elwin.

Elwin transferred $200,000 into Calucag's escrow account before leaving for the Philippines, according to documents filed in O'ahu circuit court.

Elwin has been missing since May, when he flew to the Philippines with Calucag to examine the $200,000 apartment he bought from Calucag. His family filed a missing persons report with Kaua'i police on May 15 after Elwin failed to call his 15-year-old daughter in Texas on her birthday.

On Aug. 18 Honolulu police detectives, backed by the department's Specialized Services Division, raided the Peter Street home of Debbie Anagaran, Calucag's girlfriend. Police obtained a search warrant after learning Anagaran's apartment once belonged to Arthur Young, a Honolulu man who disappeared on a business trip to the Philippines more than 10 years ago, according to police and the city prosecutor's office.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.