A 23-YEAR-OLD man passed away a few days after being beaten at dawn on Friday, April 21, 2023, in Sitio Tunga, Cantuod, a mountain barangay in Balamban town, midwest Cebu.
Victim Teodoro Calo Santito Jr., a resident of Barangay Prenza of the said municipality, expired in the hospital on Monday, April 24.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Glen Hife, chief of Balamban Police Station, the victim and the 22-year-old suspect identified as Percival Espera Macapaz alias Ebyot got into a fistfight during a disco party for their barangay’s fiesta, but the former fled in fear of being attacked by the oncoming crowd.
The suspect and his companions chased him and when they caught up with him, they beat him until he passed out.
Santito was rushed to the Provincial District Hospital in Balamban where he died a few days after going into a coma due to severe head injury.
Macapaz, however, was arrested during a follow-up operation after he was positively identified by some witnesses.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Gifter Sucalit, deputy director for operation of CPPO, they will file a homicide case against the suspect.
“Kahapon they filed attempted homicide on the suspect however they were also informed yesterday (April 25, 2023) na unfortunately namatay ang victim, so i-amend lang nila sir ang ilang gi file nga kaso nga attempted homicide to homicide. They are still waiting sa death certificate as part sa attachments,” Sucalit said.
Hife said they have already identified the other individuals who assisted Macapaz in mauling the victim and they will be included in the case. (AYB, TPT)