Trike driver found dead

Police investigate the death of a tricycle driver who was found in a grassy spot in Barangay McArthur in La Paz, Iloilo City on Tuesday.

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A tricycle driver was found dead morning of Oct. 17 in La Paz, Iloilo City.

Ronie Suficiencia, 39, a resident of Barangay McArthur, La Paz, was lying on his back on a grassy portion of Banuyao village when a resident found him around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Suficiencia had injuries on his face, which could have resulted from being struck by a hard object.

His motorcycle was parked a few meters from his body.

According to Suficiencia’s sibling, the victim left home around 6:30 a.m. to ply his tricycle in La Paz.

Two hours later, Suficiencia’s aunt claimed she saw the victim passing by Barangay Ticud, La Paz. He was carrying two passengers.

At 9 a.m., the victim’s girlfriend called his mobile number, but he allegedly rejected the call which she claimed was unusual for Suficiencia.

His family is not discounting the possibility that he could have been robbed.

The victim’s family claimed that his three rings, necklace and bracelet went missing.

But Lieutenant Greg Matutino, Iloilo City Police Station 2 chief, is inclined to believe otherwise.

He said that they are not discounting the possibility that personal grudges triggered the incident.

“The victim lived within that area. The place where he was killed is an isolated area that led to a dead-end road. If his passenger would want to be taken to that place, he must have doubted their intention,” he said.

There was also another witness claiming to have seen Suficiencia talking to two men more than an hour before his body was found.

As to the victim’s missing jewelries, Matutino said the suspects could have taken them to mislead the investigation.

Matutino said they are looking at CCTV cameras in the areas where the victim could have passed by.

“From there, we might be able to find leads on the identities of the two men he was last seen with,” he said.