CEBU, Philippines – A body believed to be that of a man who allegedly jumped off a ship last Sunday was found floating off the waters in Barangay Guiwanon, Ginatilan, Cebu on Friday.
The body, which police believed to be that of Reche Roblico, was already in a state of decomposition when discovered by a fisherman floating at a fish sanctuary off Guiwanon.
Roblico allegedly jumped off M/V Saint Francis Xavier on Sunday while the ship was sailing at Tañon Strait in the adjacent Malabuyoc town.
According to Police Officer 1 Elieser Carunasan of Ginatilan Police Station, a fisherman was on his way to his usual fishing ground when he found a body at the sanctuary trapped in ropes.
Carunasan said they verified the report and saw themselves the body, still in clothes, apparently being prevented by marker buoys from drifting away.
"Ang iyang buko-buko gihigdaan ang pisi 'nya naa'y boya sa atbang, kanang inig hapak sa balud masangit siya sa boya," Carunasan narrated.
He said the body was already in an advance state of decomposition that it could no longer be recognized. Both the arms and the left lower leg were even no longer attached to the body, said Carunasan.
In order to bring the body ashore, Carunasan said they tied a rope around its legs and had the pump boat they were using pull it towards the shore.
"Primero gipukot pero maglisod, gihigtan namo og pisi ang tiil. Basin mabungkag og isakay namo sa pump boat," the police officer said.
Carunasan said they were prompted to believe that the body was that of Roblico considering that it had a shirt and jeans on that fit the description of the clothes Roblico was wearing when he was last seen at the ship.
He said the management of the funeral homes where the body was brought told them that the mother of Roblico, accompanied by the shipping company's representative, came to check the body.
It was still not determined yet as of press time if the mother has already identified the body as that of her son. — Bryner L. Diaz/NSA (FREEMAN)