Elderly man found dead in Argao town

CEBU, Philippines — An elderly man was found lifeless in a creek in Sitio Bagacay, Barangay Canbantug, Argao town, southern Cebu, around 10:02 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24.

The victim was identified as 77-year-old Felicisimo Villegas Albite, a resident of the area.

According to the Argao Police Station, Albite had been reported missing on June 23 after he failed to return home the previous day. He had left around 9 a.m. on Monday to tend to his coconut farm in the barangay’s mountainous area.

When he didn’t return that night, his family sought help from barangay officials and neighbors to search for him.

Authorities said they received a call from a local official the following morning regarding a body found in a creek near the barangay road, approximately one kilometer from Albite’s farm. Police personnel, together with members of the Argao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (AMDRRMO) and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), responded to the area and confirmed the man was unresponsive.

Albite’s wife, Isidra Abregana Albite, accompanied barangay officials to the scene and identified the body as her husband.

Initial police findings suggest that Albite may have slipped and fallen into the creek while walking home, sustaining a fatal head injury after striking a rock.

However, the family has requested an autopsy to verify the cause of death and rule out foul play.

In an interview with The Freeman, Police Staff Sergeant Robinson Cornito said their office respects the family’s request and is prepared to conduct a deeper investigation should any suspicion arise.

“So far, wala pay result sa autopsy… Kung unsa may findings sa result, mag-conduct mi og deeper investigation kung naa man gali foul play,” Cornito said in a phone call interview. — /LPM (FREEMAN)