"Salvage" victim dumped in Talisay

CEBU, Philippines - A dead man believed to have been a victim of summary execution was found dumped in Barangay Manipis, Talisay City yesterday morning.

Another body was fished out of the seawaters yesterday afternoon near the South Reclamation Project.

The Talisay City police remains clueless of the identity of the man who was found with single gunshot wound in the head, hogtied and with mouth and nose covered with a packaging tape.

The unidentified victim was wearing white pants, white Adidas T-shirt, white shoes, about 5’4” to 5’5” tall, small built, fair complexion and between 50 to 60 years old.

Talisay City homicide police investigator SPO1 Mikie Espina said that the victim may not have come from Barangay Manipis because no one has identified him.

 “Possible gidala ra ni sa lugar aron patyon (It is possible that he was just brought and killed in the place),” Espina said.

The police recovered one empty shell of .45 caliber pistol near the victim’s body. Espina said the perpetrator may have used a suppressor because none of the residents near the area heard of the gunfire.

In another incident, a man was fished out of the seawaters near the SRP yesterday afternoon, 24 hours after he was reported missing.

The body of Jackson Ramos, 21, a resident of Sitio Kabayoan, San Roque, Talisay City who went missing Saturday afternoon at the SRP bridge in Barangay Mambaling was found at about 1:00 p.m. yesterday by the residents who were at the area to gather seashells.

Ramos allegedly went on fishing at the SRP with his three male friends last Saturday. They were already on their way home when Ramos allegedly saw a girl at the bridge and insisted with his friends to look after the girl.

Homicide investigator Leroy Baguio said Ramos’ friends were hesitant to go with him because they did not see the girl their friend was talking about.

But because Ramos was persistent, they obliged and followed him trailing down under the bridge.

“Mangnaog daw sila kay nakakita siya og chix sa taytayan. Ang iyang mga amigo, wala man gyu’y nakit-ang chix, but minaog na lang g’yud sila (they went down because they allegedly saw a lady at the bridge, his friends did not want to go down because they did not see anyone but they were obliged),” Baguio said.

On their way down under the bridge Ramos slipped and fall into the waters. Ramos’ friends tried to rescue him but he went missing. Rescuers from the Philippine Coast Guard as well as from the Bureau of Fire Protection conducted search and rescue operation but failed to find him.

It was only around 1 p.m. yesterday that the residents in the area who were gathering seashells found him around 100 meters where he drowned.

Baguio said someone has also died in the same area last year, raising a belief among residents that the area might be enchanted.

“Dili man ta mutuo og mga engkanto-engkanto kay scientific man ning ato, but posible kay naa gyud daw mamatay anang area-ha every year. Last year naa sad diha nalumos pag-try og kuha sa iyang tsinelas na naanod (We do not believe in superstition because we are using scientific method but it is also possible because every year someone will in that area. Last year someone also drowned in that place)” the policeman said.

According to Baguio, the water current in area is also strong.

Meanwhile, a construction worker was found dead inside his bunkhouse in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Carlos Espinosa, a native of Carcar City, sustained two stab wounds in the chest. The victim reported had an argument with his co-worker the night before he was found dead. — Niña G. Sumacot and Ria Mae Y. Booc and Emily Omale, STC Masscom intern/FPL (THE FREEMAN)