ORMOC CITY– A 68-year-old man from Caibiran, Biliran drowned after refusing to evacuate his home located under a bridge at the height of Tropical Depression “Opong,” authorities confirmed on Friday, September 26.
Police identified the victim only as “Gogoy,” a resident of Barangay Villa Vicenta, Caibiran. His lifeless body was discovered at about 7:15 a.m. in a farmland in Sitio Borin, Villa Vicenta.
According to a report from the Caibiran Municipal Police Station (MPS), the discovery was made after Barangay Captain Sergio R. Azur III informed authorities that a dead body had been found in the area. Boyet Pilapil, a resident who was searching for his carabao, first spotted the remains.
Police and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel immediately responded and confirmed the discovery. Initial investigation showed that the barangay chairman had earlier advised the victim to evacuate his home under the bridge due to rising waters, but the man reportedly refused to leave.
Municipal Health Officer Dr. Dionesio Plaza, who conducted a post-mortem examination on-site, ruled that the victim died of asphyxia due to drowning, caused by flash floods triggered by the storm.
The victim’s body was later brought to a local funeral home before being turned over to his family.
(ROBERT DEJON)
