Baywalk troublemaker found dead

A body of an unidentified man said to be a frequent troublemaker at Manila’s Baywalk promenade was found floating in Manila Bay yesterday by early morning strollers.

Police estimated the man to be between 50 and 55 years old. He was heavily tattooed.

Investigator SPO3 Richard Lumbad said vendors and parking attendants said the man often brandished a piece of lumber and challenged everyone, including promenaders, to a fight whenever he was drunk.

Vendor Ronilo Ocnip said the man hit him during one of his drunken episodes. He showed Lumbad his bruised right arm and left leg.

Yesterday, early morning promenaders discovered the man floating near the seawall. Police fished him out and found a gaping wound in the man’s head.

A woman, however, pointed to one Sanny Nicor, 31, a parking attendant whom she saw hit the man with a piece of lumber. However, the witness could not tell police what part of the body the man was hit.

During questioning, Nicor denied hitting the man saying he only brandished a piece of wood to scare him off. He claimed the man disappeared at the dimly lit portion of the promenade.

Lumbad said Nicor could face homicide charges based on the witness’ statement if the autopsy showed that the head wound was the cause of death.

"But he (Nicor) could escape prosecution if the death was caused by drowning," Lumbad added. — Nestor Etolle