Cops: No foul play in teenager’s death

CEBU, Philippines — The authorities did not find signs of “foul play” over the death of an 18-year-old male who was found dead along the river from Barangay Sapangdaku to Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

“As per investigation sa atong Police Station 9, walay foul play.  Unya katong tulo ka kuyog niya during the incident, gi-question pud to sa atong imbestigador,” Police Lieutenant Colonel Clark Arriola told the reporters.

At around 5 p.m. last Tuesday, the Guadalupe police received a report that Christian Redoble, 18, was found lifeless along the grassy part of the Kalunasan river with some bruises on his left eye.

In their initial investigation, the police said the victim was with his three neighbors, aged 16 to 20 years old, having a drinking session beside the river prior to the incident.

However, when they decided to go home, which includes crossing a river, the victim reportedly slipped while stepping on a stone which caused him to fall into the river and eventually drown.

“Actually gisuway sya ug tabang (victim) as per account sa atong witnesses.  Gani man, wala gyud sya matabang,” Arriola said.

On the speculation that the victim drowned prior to the lifting of the city’s storm signal, Arriola said the incident has nothing to do with Typhoon Tisoy.

“Normal to siya na report kay kung mabantayan nato gahapon, di man ing-ana kakusog ang bagyo,” Arriola said.

He added that the city’s storm signal was lifted at around 12 p.m., while the incident happened at around 5 p.m.

However, Arriola said that they have requested the victim’s family for an autopsy of the body to determine that there was indeed no foul play that happened before the incident.  GAN (FREEMAN)