Man found dead in sugarcane field

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Another man was found lifeless in a sugarcane field at Barangay Sto. Niño, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental yesterday morning.

The victim was identified by the police as Niel Andy Arcangel, 39, of Barangay Tuburan.

Police Captain Wilfredo Benoman Jr., town police chief, said Arcangel’s body was found by some residents who went jogging around 6 am Tuesday. He was identified by his sister.

Benoman said both the victim’s hands and legs were hogtied and suffered two gunshot wounds in the head. A placard with the words “Kawatan ko (I’m a thief),” was found in the scene.

Police also recovered an empty ammunition cartridge and a slug of an unknown caliber.

Benoman said they could not yet tell if the crime was committed at the scene or if Arcangel was killed somewhere else and his body was later dropped in the area where he was found.

Arcangel’s death happened five days after two Bacolod City residents were also found dead at Barangay Atipuluan, Bago City.

Just like Arcangel, the two victims were also hogtied. A placard with the words “Gutom na mga pusher, sige pa sila duso, tama na” and “Di pagparisi, drug pusher ko ya,” was also left in the area.

The note alluded that the two victims were drug peddlers.
Benoman said they could not conclude if Arcangel was a victim of summary killing, though he noted that the victim was brutally murdered.

Arcangel was charged for robbery in August 2012 in the town, police records indicated.