No foul play in boatman's death

CEBU, Philippines - No foul play was seen on the death of boatman Antonio Balingit, who was found floating in the seawaters of Barangay Tangke, Talisay, days after admitting that they transported robbery group leader Dionisio “Jun-Jun” Cabando as he escaped to Bohol.

Dr. Nestor Sator, medico legal officer of the PNP Crime Laboratory-7, confirmed that Balingit died of drowning after finding water in the boatman’s lungs.

Sator said he found no penetrating injuries on Balingit’s body except for the slight injuries on his face and right eye which were caused by a hard object.

No internal hemorrhage or contusions were seen on his epigastric region, the upper central region of the abdomen, which could signify that he was mauled.

“Possible lang naumod ni unya naigo ang nawong sa hard object before siya nahulog sa dagat,” Sator told The FREEMAN over the phone.

Sator said that according to some neighbors, Balingit was known to suddenly collapse every time he was drunk.

“Maumod lang kuno ni ug kalit kung mahubog, kusog sad ni magdala ug Tanduay sa baybay,” Sator said.

Balingit’s body was brought back to the St. Francis Funeral Homes along N. Bacalso Ave., Cebu City Tuesday evening after no doctor signed the necessary documents for his burial for failure to conduct an autopsy.

The boatman’s remains were released on Sunday after his nephew Crispin Caballan signed a waiver stating his refusal that Balingit be subjected to an autopsy.

Balingit was one of the witnesses of Cabando’s escape to Panglao, Bohol two days after the foiled heist at the Robinson’s mall last September 5. Cabando is the lone robbery suspect who survived the botched heist.

Balingit signed his affidavit last September 10 along with his nephew who is a minor, together with Marino Ochea, 43 and Luisito Ochea, 29.

They attested that it was really Cabando who was on board their pump boat.

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 the 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.  (FREEMAN)