Hunter dies after accidental shooting, fall

NUEVA ERA, Ilocos Norte — A hunter was found dead after allegedly falling off a cliff and suffering a gunshot wound while hunting at Mt. Bumandera in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte.

The victim was identified as Gringo Barid, 33, married, and a resident of Barangay Cacafean, Marcos, Ilocos Norte. According to police reports, Barid, along with two companions — Albino Magno and Hilbert Tuqyao — went hunting for wild deer and pigs on 15 March, at the said mountain.

On 17 March, at around 8:30 p.m., Barangay Captain Merlita Barid received a message from Albino Magno, informing her that Barid had fallen off a cliff during the hunt. Captain Barid immediately contacted the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Marcos, which dispatched a team to the area.

Joint elements of Nueva Era Police Station, the 77th Infantry Battalion Alpha Company led by 2nd Lieutenant Rei Francisco, the Provincial Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Special Rescue Unit, BFP Nueva Era, BFP Marcos, the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 under the 4th Marine Brigade, and health responders from the Rural Health Units of Nueva Era and Marcos, along with Barangay Kagawad Bangi, responded to the scene at around 7:37 a.m. on 18 March.

Initial investigation revealed that while the group was chasing a wild deer, Barid allegedly lost his footing and fell off a cliff. Albino Magno reported that the shotgun Barid was holding — described as an improvised 12-gauge firearm — accidentally discharged, hitting him in the upper sternum before he fell.

Barid was retrieved from the site and rushed to Doña Josefa Edraline Marcos District Hospital, where he was declared dead by Dr. Harold A. Ermitanio. The cause of death was identified as a gunshot wound to the upper sternum, and Barid had been dead for approximately 24 hours before being found.

Authorities recovered the improvised firearm at the scene. Further investigation is ongoing to confirm the sequence of events leading to the tragic incident.