Body stuffed in sack fished out of Iloilo City waters

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The body of a 38-year-old man was found floating on the waters of Iloilo City evening of May 14, three days after he was reported missing.

The body of Raymond Castro, a resident of Brgy. Simon Ledesma, Jaro, Iloilo City, was scooped from Iloilo Strait near Parola wharf in City Proper district.

Barangay tanod Rizal Base, 33, of Barangay Concepcion, City Proper district, said they were on a roving patrol around 9:50 p.m. Sunday when they got information of a suspicious “object” inside a sack was floating near Parola Wharf.

He allegedly tore a portion of the sack and saw a body donned in a black t-shirt.

A tattoo was also etched on the body’s left arm.

Base immediately called for police assistance.

Members of the Regional Forensic Unit were also called in to investigate.

Almost two hours later, the victim’s uncle, Barangay Kagawad Arnel Ledesma, confirmed that the body was that of his nephew, Raymond Castro.

The victim’s wife and child also confirmed that Castro has a “Rosmar” tattoo on his back which also matched the one found on the body.

Captain Peter John Ramos, ICPS1 chief, said they could not determine the suspect’s cause of death.

“We initially did not find any stab or gunshot wounds. The victim, though, has injuries on his face,” he said.

Ramos added they’re still investigating the motive and possible suspects behind the killing.

Meanwhile, Captain Lester Oliveros, Iloilo City Police Station 3 chief, confirmed that Castro’s wife reported to the police that her husband went missing on May 11.

In a CCTV footage, the wife claimed that around seven men fetched her husband around 1:30 a.m. of May 11 and they boarded an SUV.

That was the last time her husband was seen alive.

According to reports, the suspect was with a certain Bulag, who remains missing, as of this writing.

It was gathered that the suspect has surrendered through Oplan Tokhang.

He was arrested in a drug-related case in 2020.

Reports claimed that he was also involved in theft incidents.