Two missing persons found dead in Negros

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Two persons who were reported missing in separate incidents in Negros Occidental were found dead, authorities said.

The Philippine Coast Guard District Southern Visayas reported that a 28-year-old man identified only as Ronilo was found in the waters between Vito Port and Molocaboc Island in Sagay City on Friday.

Ronilo went missing Thursday after he went fishing with his father and a companion, according to the Coast Guard.

The victim’s father confirmed his son’s identity and told authorities what happened before the body was found.

The father said they went fishing off Molocaboc Island, but after diving, he noticed that his son was missing, prompting him to search for Ronilo until the body was sighted the following day.

The father told authorities that his son had a pre-existing health condition.

Authorities confirmed the cause of death as asphyxia secondary to drowning.

Meanwhile, a 45-year-old man who reportedly jumped from a vessel in San Carlos City on April 27 was found lifeless Thursday along Tañon Strait off Sipaway Island in Barangay San Juan.

Police Lt. Col. Nazer Canja, chief of the San Carlos City Police Station, identified the victim only as Jess, a resident of Sagay City.

Canja said the victim had recently been released from jail after allegedly being involved in a stabbing incident in 2022.

Canja said the vessel’s crew did not notice any unusual behavior from the victim before the incident.

The victim was supposed to travel to Toledo, Cebu, at the time.

Canja said the victim’s family did not provide any information indicating that he might have been suffering from depression or had a problem.

Three days later, the victim’s decomposing body was retrieved and claimed by his family.