Fisherman found dead in Talisay; man shot by caretaker

CEBU, Philippines - A fisherman was found floating dead in the seawaters of Barangay Pooc, Talisay City early yesterday morning.

Police identified the fatality as Victoriano Sotomayor, 68, a resident of Barangay Upper Mohon of the same city who was allegedly drunk when he went fishing prior to his death.

Sotomayor’s friends and neighbors, whom he had a drinking session with prior to the incident, told the police that they all went fishing with the victim after their drinking binge last night.

One of the neighbors said they just noticed that Sotomayor suddenly disappeared.

The body was later found floating in the water.

A concerned citizen reported the matter to the police.

Insp. Hugo Rio Ipong, PO2 Roy Lofranco, and PO1 Euwen Pitogo responded to the area and rushed the victim to the Talisay City District Hospital but he was already dead.

It was believed that the victim, who was still drunk, fell off his banca and drowned.

Meanwhile, at 3 am yesterday in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City, a 44-year-old man was seriously wounded after he was shot by a young man who suspected him of being a robber. The victim was identified as Alejandro “Andoy” Tapinid while the suspect was identified as Juvy Ibañez, 23, a native of Asturias and temporarily staying at a construction site in the barangay. The suspect is reportedly a caretaker of the site.

Police investigation showed that the victim, a resident of the place, entered the construction site without permission and was eventually shot by the suspect.

The victim was taken to the Talisay City District Hospital and was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center due to his critical condition.

Minutes later, policemen arrested Ibañez who admitted to shooting the victim.

Later, while inside the detention cell, Ibañez retracted his statement and denied shooting Tapinid. — (FREEMAN)