Three men were arrested hours after the body of a 48-year-old laborer was found in a creek in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, June 24.
Police identified the victim as “Sonny,” a resident of Sitio Marta, Brgy. Masulog.
The suspects were identified as “Rey,” 30, “Rom,” 20, and “Jon,” 18.
The victim’s body was discovered at around 4 p.m. in Sitio Balingasag by a resident who was on his way to hunt frogs.
Police said the body, which was found beneath the creek, was immediately retrieved by barangay rescue personnel due to unfavorable weather conditions and the risks posed by the area.
The victim’s remains were brought to the barangay hall before being transported to a funeral home in Moises Padilla.
La Castellana police said the three suspects were identified and apprehended through follow-up operations and further investigation at around 8 p.m. on the same day.
Police said the suspects were the last persons seen drinking with the victim before his body was discovered.
One of the suspects allegedly admitted his participation in the killing and provided investigators with information about the incident.
Investigator PMSg. Jun Pol Baltazar said the victim was allegedly punched, kicked, and struck with a stone before his body was carried and dumped into the creek.
Baltazar said the victim and the suspects were allegedly intoxicated when the incident occurred.
Police are looking at drunkenness as a possible factor behind the killing, although the circumstances that triggered the attack remain under investigation.
Baltazar said police are preparing a murder complaint against the suspects, subject to the assessment of the prosecutor.
The La Castellana Municipal Police Station also requested assistance from the Scene of the Crime Operatives for a forensic examination to establish the victim’s cause of death.*
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