3 men die in different incidents over weekend

CEBU – The weekend saw three men killed in different incidents in barangays Guadalupe and Bonbon.

The first incident happened around 10 a.m. along V. Rama Ave., Cebu City, when 54-year-old Lazaro Estera engaged in a fistfight with his brother-in-law, Henry Romarate, over reports about Crisostomo Llaguno alias “Tata Negro,” the man who evaded the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency last October 30.

Initial investigation revealed that Estera and Romarate were arguing over the recent reports involving Tata Negro, which led to a fistfight between the two.

Estera reportedly suffered from hypertension and sustained serious injuries and bruises to the forehead. He fell to the ground before the fight was all over. He was rushed to the Chong Hua Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. 

Romarate, who also suffered injuries to his head, was subsequently arrested by the responding policeman PO2 Rodulfo Bolamba. He is currently detained at the Guadalupe police station after being treated at the Cebu City Medical Center.

Two hours later, the body of Modesto Arila, a 70-year-old farmer, was discovered floating on the river in sitio Biasong, barangay Bonbon.

Inspection of Arila’s body revealed that he had a laceration in the forehead but had no other injuries suggesting foul play. He was reportedly seen drunk the previous afternoon at the cockpit area in the barangay.

Arila’s relatives suggested for his body to undergo an autopsy but Arila’s immediate family declined and even signed a waiver, saying they are convinced that he merely fell into the river and eventually drowned.

Later in the evening, trisikad driver Richard David, 27, was killed after being shot three times in the head about 10 p.m. near the abandoned gatehouse of Espina Village in barangay Guadalupe.

The alleged assailants, Primo Retarino, his son Andrew, and a certain “Jun” or “Joe,” remain at large after leaving the crime scene. Primo is reportedly the village security guard.

The witness, a member of the Barangay Intelligence Network, said he was doing his rounds in the area at that time when he saw Primo having a heated argument with David’s passenger.

The passenger, a woman, reportedly wanted to enter the village but the three suspects allegedly would not let her pass and even shooed her away. 

This reportedly prompted David to intervene but just as he did so, Primo pulled out his gun and shot him thrice. After which, Primo and the two suspects who acted as backup reportedly just walked back casually into the village.

The police recovered a slug of an undetermined caliber from the crime scene while the trisikad is now in the possession of the Crime Scene Investigation Unit. Responding policemen failed to arrest the suspects. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)