Gigmoto police authorities are facing a blank wall in the death of an abaca stripper who was gunned down while catching fish in the shallow sea off barangay San Vicente at about midnight of Jan. 31, 2022.
The body of Randy Abarca Ruayana Jr., 30, a resident of District II, was found draped on the rocks at the shore of the village at about 9 AM the following day, Feb. 1.
Initial investigation showed that at 9 PM of Jan. 31, the victim told his family that he would go out to catch fish using a light source (mangilaw) but he did not return home.
At 7AM the next morning, his live-in partner decided to report his disappearance to the authorities and sought assistance from the Gigmoto police.
Immediately, the local police launched a search-rescue/retrieval operation together with personnel of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
The group scoured the sea and shoreline within the town until they spotted his dead body on the craggy shore.
A postmortem examination conducted by the Municipal Health Office showed that the victim sustained three bullet wounds at the left side of the stomach, the right arm near the elbow and the right side of his body.
The caliber of the bullet as well as the type of firearm used has yet to be determined.
Witnesses told the police that at about 12 midnight of Jan. 31, they heard three successive gunshots but they could not pinpoint where the shots came from.
Investigators are still looking into the incident to determine possible motives for the shooting and identify the suspect.