Man shot in shipyard then thrown to sea

A 26-year-old man believed to have been shot by a security guard of a shipyard was found dead on the shore of barangay Labogon, Mandaue City yesterday morning.

Police said it was possible that Ronie Alvarado, a resident of barangay Pakna-an, Mandaue, was shot inside a shipyard before his body was thrown on the shore.

Police are looking for the security guard identified as a certain Academia JC for his possible involvement in the shooting.

The fatality, who had gunshot wounds in the head, right side of the face and neck, may have been shot with a shotgun, police said.

The body was found by Jose Fernando Cabahug and Moises Sambrana, security guards of Jomalia Shipping Corp.

Academia was the security guard of Unilink.

The shipyards of Unilink and Jomalia are located in one compound.

Cabahug and Sambrana told police that they heard gunshots at 2 a.m. before they found the body.

Police saw traces of blood in the perimeter fence of Unilink Shipping. Found inside the compound was a compressor tank with blood stains.

PO3 Marino Lofranco said the blood stains indicated that the victim was shot inside the shipyard before his body was dragged to the shore.

Sambrana and Cabahug will be asked to undergo a paraffin test to determine if they had recently fired a gun, police said.

Academia could no longer be found after the discovery of the body. He was the security guard on duty when the two other guard heard bursts of gunfire, police said.

A shotgun was found from the guardhouse where Academia was detailed.

Sambrana and Cabahug said they didn’t know the real name of Academia since they only call them “dong.”

A murder case will be filed against Academia, said police.

Sambrana and Cabahug told police that there had been several theft cases in the shipyard.

Antonio Alvarado, the victim’s uncle, said his nephew deserves  justice.

“Dili sab na sakto nga ilang patyon kon ugaling kawatan man siya (It is not right to kill him even if they suspected him to be a thief),” Antonio said.

Antonio said he was disappointed with Academia’s colleagues in the shipyard for allegedly allowing him to escape and for failing to immediately report the incident to the police.

Antonio said Ronie was unemployed but was not capable of stealing.