ILOILO – A 45-year-old man from Barangay Danao, Tigbauan town was found lifeless near a stream bank after he was allegedly mauled by a group of men during a drinking session at a wake the night before.
The victim, identified as Robert Garcia, attended the wake along with his cousin, alias “Rogie,” at around 10:30 p.m. on June 29.
According to Rogie, they were drinking when Garcia was suddenly attacked and beaten by eight men. He said he was also assaulted — two men held him and turned him upside down.
On their way home, Rogie recalled that Garcia was already weak and struggling to breathe. He also complained of difficulty walking. Rogie said he left Garcia on the side of the road to seek help, but when he returned, Garcia was gone. He resumed the search early the next morning and found Garcia’s lifeless body near a stream bank on June 30.
Police Captain Alfred Mansoy, officer-in-charge of the Tigbauan Municipal Police Station, confirmed the presence of a bruise on the victim’s neck but said it remained unclear whether it resulted from a punch or choking.
He added that the exact cause of death has yet to be determined pending the results of an autopsy.
As of this writing, two of the suspects were in the custody of Tigbauan MPS as the investigation was ongoing./PN
