Construction worker dies after being beaten

CEBU, Philippines - A construction worker died after he was allegedly beaten by his three co-workers yesterday while sleeping inside the third floor of the building they were constructing in Barangay Busay, Cebu City, where two others were also injured during the attack.

A certain “Joshua,” a stay-in construction worker of the museum being built at Sitio Roosevelt, of the said barangay, sustained multiple head injuries after two of his fellow construction workers, armed with galvanized iron pipes, attacked him while he was sleeping at around 12:48 a.m. Joshua died on the spot, while his two co-workers, Ranilo Soquib, 37, of Sitio Kambiyo, Barangay Sirao and Jcenito Borres, of legal age, and a resident of Barangay Adlaon, sustained bruises on different parts of the body.

The victims were reportedly attacked by their co-workers Benjie Sinaloba, Vicente “Insik” Bantiligan, and Jopel Masuko, all from Barangay Carmelo, Tabuelan town.

The three managed to flee after stealing Borres’ black motorcycle bearing plate number 5440 GO.

When the police arrived, Joshua was lying in his own pool of blood with several lacerations and bruises on his head.

Soquib said they were sleeping at the third floor of the building they were constructing when he was awakend by blows from the suspects who hit them with galvanized iron pipes.

PO2 Erwin Piquero said the victims were sleeping soundly after a drinking session. “Natulog siya, wa na gyud siya kamata, (Joshua just slept and wasn’t able to wake up.)”

Soquib and Borres were rushed to Cebu City Medical Center for medical attention but Joshua was declared dead by a responding medical team. His body was brought to St. Francis Funeral Parlor.

Investigation revealed that the reason behind the attack was personal grudge. One of the suspects allegedly got angry at Masuko for reported to their foreman some work-related mistakes of one of the suspects’ close friends.  (FREEMAN)