Three men were beaten up reportedly by commercial sex workers and bystanders in Iloilo City. One of them jumped into the Iloilo River to supposedly wash off blood. However, he was reported missing.

The search for the man took reportedly over five hours.

According to the man’s sibling, his brother leapt into the waters to clean up his bloodied face. The man identified only as a certain “Archie” jumped into the river after he was beaten up with a wood.

Archie, his sibling, and their companion were beaten up by commercial sex workers and bystanders in Ledesma Street, Iloilo City dawn on Thursday, April 3, 2025 for alleged miscommunication in a transaction.

“P700 daw o P800. Nagkasagutan sila kasi ang mahal daw, pangit naman,” Archie’s brother “Darwin” said.

According to the police, the three were about to hire the service of commercial sex workers, but they were turned down reportedly because of drunken stupor.

When a commotion ensued, bystanders and tricycle drivers nearby who are reportedly intimately connected with the sex workers joined in the fracas.

“Nasuntok nito (Archie) ang sex worker at kumuha pa siya ng patalim sa kanyang traysikel. Ngunit hindi na nya nagawang manaksak dahil hinampas siya ng kahoy,” said Lt. Romelo Tabuyoc, officer in charge of the Iloilo City Police Station 1.

As the three men refused to file charges against the women, they were allowed to go home. However, upon reaching Muelle Loney area, Archie jumped off the tricycle and leapt into the river.

As information on the drowning was not verified, the rescue operation was not carried out immediately. But there were volunteers who dived into the river to look for Archie.

"Tumalon ang kanyang kapatid dahil may sugat yun," Samson, a friend of Archie, said.

However, by noontime, police personnel received information that Archie was spotted to have come home at his boarding house in Barangay Lopez Jaena Sur, La Paz District. 

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas chanced upon Archie drinking liquor in the vicinity of his rented space.

“Sa knowledge ko, ang sugat gagaling sa dagat. Hindi ako malulunod kahit may barko pa, sisisid ako,” Archie said.

The authorities asked help immediately from emergency responders in Iloilo City to treat Archie’s wound.