Cops eye dynamite fishing as cause for diver’s death

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial police director has ordered Daanbantayan police to conduct further investigation into the death of a diving instructor to determine if there was foul play when he drowned while diving underwater last week.

This after policemen received information that the diver, Al Bernard Coyoca, 33, might have been hit by exploding dynamite thrown into the sea.

Aside from the Daanbantayan police, Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac, director of the Cebu City Police Office, also directed the Provincial Investigation Detective and Management Branch to verify the information.

Around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday last week, Coyoca’s lifeless body was found in the shores of Barangay Paypay after diving underwater since 5 a.m. that day.

Police Officer 3 Victor Avenido, investigator at the Daanbantayan Police Station, said they already received the order from the police provincial director.

He, however, said even without the provincial headquarter’s command, they have already been digging deeper into their investigation to know the real cause of Coyoca’s death.

Avenido said they are following up on three possible angles to Coyoca’s death including the problem on the diving equipments, Coyoca’s physical condition and the possibility that the victim was hit by exploding dynamite used for fishing.

He said it is more likely possible that Coyoca was hit by dynamite since they have spoken to some people who reportedly witnessed the incident.

However, Avenido said they will know for sure if they have the right speculation when they get the autopsy examination results this October 17.

 “Kanang dinamita nga angulo murag duol ta diha kay naa naman ta’y nakuha nga testigos. Pero masubay lang gyud ni kung naa na’y resulta sa autopsy”, said Avenido.

He said they now have the list of persons whom they suspect as the ones responsible for the crime but refused to divulge their names since the investigation is still ongoing. — (FREEMAN)