Death of yKalinga laborer found floating in a river in Benguet ruled as accident

Tabuk City, Kalinga — There shall be no more investigation to be conducted for the case of an yKalinga construction worker believed to have drowned in a river in Bokod, Benguet, Bokod Municipal Police Station said Monday, August 23.

“So far po, case closed. Iyong nangyari po is accident,” Bokod MPS said through a text message.

The victim, Rico Bayawoc, 30, a native of Tinglayan municipality but a resident of Barangay Nambaran, Tabuk City, had been recovered from a shallow part of Bangao River in Barangay Ambuklao. His body was first seen by a resident in the area and was later on reported to authorities.

Police said the body was identified by his fellow worker at the Chacharo Galeng KATHA Builders based in Poblacion, Bokod, and neighbor, Frunstone Dungan. It was later claimed by his relatives on August 20 and was immediately brought home.

His remains were laid to rest on Sunday, August 22, 2021.

“Kuna ni COP Bulao ket addan nga inyapan da Nambaran diay bangkay na. Kalilibing da lang yesterday,” Larae Lactao of the Municipal Information Office of Tinglayan said.

In case that the victim’s family needs assistance, the Local Government of Tinglayan, Lactao said, is willing to help.

“Nu kailangan ti family ti assistance, mabalin da ag-request,” the information officer added.

How the drowning incident happened

In a progress report by the Bokod MPS on Friday, August 20, Dungan narrated that “at about 2:00 dawn of August 19, he noticed that the victim went out at their shack situated near the flood control construction site presuming to attend a call of nature (pee).”

“Minutes later, he noticed the victim showing different personality prompting him to wake and inform his other co-workers but the latter disappeared in the dark,” Bokod MPS added.

At 6 AM on the same day, Dungan and his co-workers asked at the neighborhood and searched Bayawoc at nearby vicinity but the latter was nowhere to be found.

Dungan also relayed that Bayawoc was diagnosed with mental illness but stopped taking his prescribed medicines.

An assessment made by Dra. Lilian of the Bokod Rural Unit revealed that the victim died due to intracerebral hemorrhage, multiple head injuries, and falling into the river.

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