A hunter, previously reported missing after falling into a ravine in Ilocos Norte, was found dead with gunshot wounds.
The victim’s lungs were found to have two gunshot wounds after his body was retrieved from Mount Bumandera in Barangay Sto. Niño, Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte.
P/Capt. William Sotelo, Chief of the Nueva Era Municipal Police Station, identified the victim as Gringo Barid, 33, married and a resident of Barangay Cacafean, Marcos, and identified his two companions as Albino Magno and Hilbert Tuqyao.
He stated that the three had gone to the mountain to hunt wild animals such as wild boar and deer.
According to Albino, one of the victim’s companions, while they were hunting, the victim suddenly fell into the ravine.
Furthermore, Albino mentioned that while they were pursuing a deer, Gringo stumbled, and his firearm accidentally discharged, hitting the victim’s lungs, causing him to fall into the ravine.
However, P/Capt. Sotelo explained that the victim’s family does not believe the sequence of events, prompting them to request an autopsy to determine if foul play was involved.
He added that they recovered an improvised 12-gauge shotgun from the incident site.
The ravine where the victim fell is estimated to be six to eight feet deep.