BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – A dead man stuffed in a sack was found floating at the Parola wharf in Barangay Concepcion, City Proper around 9:50 p.m. on Sunday, May 14.
Raymund Ledesma Castro, a 38-year-old resident of Barangay Simon Ledesma, Jaro district, was positively identified by his wife. He had a “Rosmar” tattoo on his back.
Barangay Desamparados kagawad Arnel Ledesma, Castro’s uncle, said the victim had been linked to illegal drugs and incidents of theft, and was released from prison in 2021 through a plea bargain.
“Masakit gid ya batyagon. Bisan ano na siya kadungol, tawo man lang kita…Kalaw-ay nga gin-summary execution siya,” said Ledesma.
Meanwhile, Castro’s mother, Lilia, said in an interview with DYRI RMN Iloilo that her son was good and responsible.
“Ang pagkilala ko sa bata ko sa amon di sa sulod sang balay maayo na siya. Iban ya kung gabisyo daw ka iritable sa panimalay, iya indi siya ya. Bisyo niya ni ga-shabu pero sa amon panimalay wala ni siya ya nagagamo. Responsable kag mapinalanggaon gid na siya ya sa mga bata niya,” said Lilia.
Police Captain Peter John Ramos, officer-in-charge of the Iloilo City Police Station 1, told Panay News yesterday they were coordinating with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO).
“So far, ang gina-obra sang aton mga kapulisan is gina-follow-up ang case nga ni sa SOCO team para sa mga findings sang iya cause of death. Kung pila na siya ka adlaw nga naga lutaw-lutaw nga makahatag lead sa aton kag ma-analyze naton ang motibo kag possible perpetrators,” said Ramos.
Ledesma was reported missing on May 11, together with alias “Bulag””, allegedly kidnapped in Barangay Desamparados, Jaro.
Closed-circuit television camera footage showed that around 1 a.m. on May 11, Castro and Bulag were walking when seven men escorted them inside a sports utility vehicle.
Bulag remains missing as of this writing, Ramos said./PN
