A 72-year-old grandfather lost his life in a tragic motorcycle accident in Liloan, Cebu, on Thursday night, January 8, 2026. The victim was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, leading to fatal head injuries.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The accident occurred at approximately 9:15 PM on January 8, 2026, along the road in Kampisot, Sityo Curva, Barangay San Vicente, Liloan. The victim was identified as 72-year-old Martin Arcelo, a married resident of Sityo Sambag in the same barangay.
According to Police Chief Master Sergeant Arni Goc-ong, the investigating officer from the Liloan Police Station, Arcelo was on his way home after a drinking session with a friend. The session reportedly began as early as 2:00 PM that afternoon, with the pair moving from one drinking spot to another until evening.
Discovery and Emergency Response
A fellow motorist, Mark Ardiente, discovered the scene. He found Arcelo slumped over near his motorcycle by the roadside. Ardiente immediately alerted barangay officials, who swiftly responded.
The responders rushed the victim to Mendero Medical Center in Consolacion City via ambulance. However, Arcelo was declared dead upon arrival. Medical personnel noted severe head trauma as the cause of death, compounded by the fact that the victim was not wearing protective headgear. A telltale sign of the massive internal injury was blood flowing from his nose.
Police Investigation and Ongoing Probe
Police Master Sergeant Goc-ong stated that while the primary cause appears to be a solo accident, investigators are not completely ruling out other possibilities. "We are not discarding the possibility that the victim suffered an attack while driving his motorcycle," Goc-ong told Sunstar Superbalita Cebu.
However, he clarified that no immediate signs of foul play were found at the scene. The investigation remains ongoing to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to the fatal crash. This tragic event underscores the critical importance of road safety, particularly the use of helmets for all motorcycle riders.
