Body of sardine factory worker found along Zamboanga City shoreline

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — An employee of a sardine factory here was found dead along the shoreline of RT Lim Boulevard, locally known as Cawa-Cawa here on Thursday morning.

Police Major Paul Andrew Cortes, spokesperson of the Zamboanga City Police Office, said the body of Cris Fernando, of legal age, single, and who worked as an oiler for Mega Fishing Port at Zone 3B, Barangay Cawit, was found 13 kilometers away from his work station at around 8:25 a.m.

“He was found naked in a supine position with his head submerged in the water and floating along the shoreline of R.T. Lim Boulevard,” Cortes said.

Initial investigation conducted by the police found that in the morning of Wednesday, September 14, Fernando had removed his clothes which consisted of a t-shirt and a pair of denim jeans before he swam towards the deeper part of the water.

“A witness heard him saying that he will swim towards Santa Cruz Island,” Cortes said.

The witness, a minor, said he kept Fernando’s clothes and waited for him to return. But when it was already dark and Fernando still failed to return, the witness went to the Zamboanga City Police Station 11, handing over Fernando’s clothes.

“After that, the police started searching the premises,” Cortes said.

Fernando’s body was recovered on Thursday morning while the police continued their investigation to clear all doubts of a possible foul play. The body was brought to the Villa Funeral Homes.

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