CEBU, Philippines - A native of Leyte province who reportedly jumped off a shipyard last Thursday evening was found dead in the waters in Barangay San Roque, Cebu City last Saturday morning.
The body of Trillian Toledo, 30, a resident of Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City, was retrieved by the responding men of Philippine Coast Guard and port police after receiving a report of a lifeless body floating on the sea water near Pier 2.
PO2 Alexes Alferez of the Waterfront Police Station said a certain Madam Rosa saw a bloated body floating on the waters near the docking area of Pier 2 and reported immediately to the port police.
“Nakit-an sa Pier 2 pero kay layo man and distansya sa docking area gikan sa tubig, gihinay-hinay na lang ug guroy ang patayng lawas sa mga port police officers ngadto sa Pier 3 unya mitabang sab ang coast guard sa paghaw-as sa maong lawas.†Alferez explained.
Prior to the retrieval of the body, Ruth Sanchez, an errand girl of the Gemini Shipping Lines, reportedly saw the victim jumping off from the docking area of Berth 22 of the same shipyard last Thursday at around 9:15 p.m.
Sanchez reportedly called for help while Toledo was fluttering on the waters.
Sanchez and other people who gathered to help obtained a rope and hurriedly dropped it to rescue Toledo however the latter already submerged under the sea waters.
Authorities immediately responded and conducted a search and rescue operation however they failed to retrieve Toledo’s body.
Recovered from the scene were a cellular phone and a rosary bracelet, in which police investigators believed were owned and left by Toledo.
“Wala pa sab namo masuta kon naa ba siyay pamilya diri sa Cebu. Hinuon kaning cellphone sa maong biktima maoy lead para masubay iyang pamilya aron makontak nato sila ug posibleng masuta nato kon unsay hinungdan kon nganong nagpakamatay ang maong biktima.†Alferez said.
Alferez further said basing from the accounts of the people who were present during the incident, they weren’t able to identify the victim.
“Mao sab lagi among nahibungan kay walay naka-ila niya diri sa pier, basin pasahero ni siya o unsa ba, kay dili baya ka makabasta-basta ug sulod dira sa pier.†Alferez said.
The victim’s remain was brought to St. Francis Funeral Homes. (FREEMAN)