Fisherman's body released sans autopsy

CEBU, Philippines - Police plan to ask help from personnel of the Scene of the Crime Operatives to autopsy the cadaver of Antonio Balingit, one the crew of the boat used by wanted robber Dionisio “Jun-Jun” Cabando to escape to Bohol, after it was released Sunday afternoon from the St. Francis Funeral Homes without being autopsied.

Cabando is the lone robbery suspect who survived a botched heist in uptown Cebu last September 5.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office, said that the body must be examined by a doctor to determine if he died naturally or if there was foul play in his death.

Santander said they wondered who signed a waiver refusing an autopsy for Balingit since he did not have any immediate family.

 But Joy Enriquez, officer-in-charge of the funeral homes, said a certain Crispin Bacallan, who claimed to be a nephew of the victim, signed the waiver.

Enriquez said they will be contacting Bacallan to return the body to the funeral homes to be examined by a doctor as well as to sign all the documents needed for his burial.

“Dili man gyud na malubong ang patay ug walay pirma sa doctor bisan unsaon pa na nila,” she said.

She added that the doctor will not sign the necessary documents unless the cadaver will be examined, especially if it is part of the investigation of a high-profile case.

“Nagtuo man gud nga kung ma-embalsamar na okay na unya dili man mopirma ang doctor sa waiver lang,” she said.

Enriquez further said that they will be calling either Dr. Nestor Sator or Dr. Joe Martin Fuentes, both of the PNP Crime Laboratory-7, to conduct an autopsy.

Balingit, 50, a fisherman and resident of Sitio Magay, Barangay Tangke, Talisay City, was found floating in the sea off Sitio Salvador, Tangke, by Michael Librando and Joseph Tonga, crewmen of a barge named Filipino owned by FF Cruz Corp.

Santander said they will wait for the result of the autopsy to determine whether or not the death of Balingit had something to do with Cabando’s escape.

Initially there were no signs of stab or gunshot wounds in his body except for a wound on the right eye which was believed to have been caused by the waves.

SPO1 Mikie Espina, Talisay City police investigator, said that Balingit was last seen alive Thursday evening and appeared drunk.

Espina added, Balingit was seen leaving the wharf in Barangay Tangke on his motorized banca bringing a bottle of rum. He was found floating dead in the sea Saturday afternoon.

Balingit signed his affidavit last September 10 together with Marino Ochea, 43; Luisito Ochea, 29 and a minor nephew of the fatality. They attested that it was really Cabando was on board their pump boat to Panglao, Bohol.

Cabando reportedly disguised himself as a blonde woman and wore a blue dress. He was assisted by two armed men as he was pale, limping and weak from a gunshot wound sustained during a robbery.

Two security guards were killed in the Sept. 5 robbery while three accomplices of Cabando were also shot dead by the police. The P1.2 million cash they took from a bank teller was recovered.

Santander said whatever the result of the autopsy they will be assuring the witnesses of their full support and security.

“Ila gud ming gitabangan in return amo pud silang tabangan,” he said. —/BRP (FREEMAN)