Ormoc police investigate skydiving Incident

CEBU, Philippines - No one has filed a complaint, but the Ormoc City Police will investigate the death of a medical student who plunged to his death on Thursday after noon during his first skydive.

Ormoc City Police Station 3 investigator SPO1 Renato Singcol told The FREEMAN they are currently doing a probe to get details on the death of Louie Raymond Pestaño, 24.

“Wala pa nila nahinabi ang instructor, mao nga padayon pa among imbistigasyon karon (We have yet to speak with the instructor.),” he said.

Based on their initial investigation, Pestaño might have panicked seconds before he finally jumped off the plane. “Tingalig nag-lisod siyag bira sa unag parachute ug tingali nakalimot siya iyang karatol nga naa pay second reserve parachute,” he said.  

Singcol said that the only one who can shed light on what really happened seconds before the victim jumped would be his instructor, Garry Soria of the Cebu Sky Diving Club, who was reportedly with him.

Soria, according to him, have not reported to their station again for further investigation. “Last namo nakitan si Soria atong ilang pag-report sa insidente sa station,” he said. (We last saw him when they came over to the station to report the incident.)

Singcol said Soria could answer why Pestaño was alone for his first skydive, when according to him, a first-time skydiver should be accompanied by the instructor.

Pestaño’s parachute allegedly failed to deploy properly last Thursday afternoon, during the celebration of Ormoc City’s charter day.  

The incident reportedly happened at 3:30 p.m. The victim landed on a rice field. He did not reach the hospital alive. His body was brought home to Cebu City yesterday. His family lives at Victor Village, Barangay Punta Princesa. (FREEMAN)