ORMOC CITY– A 77-year-old man was found dead, floating in a creek in Barangay Cayare, San Miguel, Leyte, on Sunday afternoon, June 15 with authorities believe he may have accidentally drowned.
Police identified the victim only by his alias “Tito,” a single man with no permanent residence, who was known to frequent the construction site of the wet market in the barangay.
According to the local police, a resident identified as alias “Aljun” reported the discovery of the body at around 3:15 pm. Responding officers immediately proceeded to the area to verify the report and conduct an investigation.
Initial findings revealed that the victim was last seen on the night of Friday, June 13, drinking “tuba” (coconut wine) alone near the wet market. Witnesses noted that he had not been seen for two days and that he was often observed defecating near the creek, raising the possibility that he may have slipped and fallen into the water.
The same witness told investigators that the victim appeared physically weak and had difficulty walking, possibly due to existing health conditions.
The San Miguel Municipal Police Station has coordinated with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) to process the scene. Initial examination showed no signs of foul play on the victim’s body.
(ROBERT DEJON)
