• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A fisherman from Victorias City, Negros Occidental died in an alleged strafing incident within the territorial waters of Santa Fe, Bantayan, Cebu yesterday.
Commander Jansen Benjamin, chief of Philippine Coast Guard Northern Negros Occidental, said that they are now investigating the incident.
Benjamin said that the victim, whose identity he initially withheld, and five others were on board a fishing vessel when the incident took place.
Boat captain John Rexel Azuelo, in an interview with RMN DYHB, tagged the suspects as alleged Bantay Dagat members, who flagged them down and told them they were within the 12- kilometer prohibited fishing grounds.
Azuela said that the victim succumbed to a gunshot injury in the chest.
He added that it was the first time that the victim joined them in the fishing vessel.
The fishing boat left Victorias City at noon of Sept. 2, and the alleged strafing incident took place early morning of the next day.
Azuelo further said that the assailants were wearing bonnets, with the two of them carrying long firearms.
They fled on board a motorboat after learning that they hit one of the vessel’s crew members.
The cadaver of the victim was brought to Madridejos, Cebu. | GB
