Holy Week ends with 25 dead in the water
ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan/ CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur/SAN FRANCISCO, Quezon — The death toll from drowning incidents in the Holy Week reached 25 yesterday as 10 more people were reported to have drowned on Black Saturday and Easter morning.
Last Saturday, consolidated reports from the police and local authorities said a total of 15 people – many of them holidaymakers or under the influence alcohol – drowned in rivers, beaches and swimming pools in the provinces of Pangasinan, Isabela, Batangas, Quezon, and Cavite since Good Friday.
Yesterday, four more people reportedly drowned in Pangasinan.
Police identified the victims as Darwin Castrence, 31, of Anda town, whose body was found washed ashore at Tondol white sand beach in Anda town; Kenneth Camba, 15, afflicted with epilepsy and a resident of Alaminos City, who was found lifeless along the shore of Bagbag Beach in Barangay Victoria, Alaminos City; Jun Rey Sandoval, 1, of San Jacinto town, who drowned in the Malasin River in Pozorrubio; and Desimprado Garcia, 81, of Labuan, San Quintin, Pangasinan, who drowned at the San Fabian beach.
In Isabela, another five people drowned on top of the three reported last Saturday by police.
A text message from Supt. Manuel Bringas, chief of the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch, identified the victims as 12-year-olds Rachel Domingo, Rhea Labog, and Carla Jane Maramag, all resident of Duminit, Cauayan City, Isabela; Marvin Balisi, 27, of Ilagan City; and a still unidentified female whose body was fished out of the Cagayan River in Reina Mercedes, Isabela.
Bringas said the 12-year-olds drowned while swimming in the Cagayan River, Barangay Duminit Alicaocao, Cauayan City around noon of Black Saturday.
Balisi, on the other hand, was reportedly under influence of liquor when he drowned Pinacanauan River, Ilagan City, Isabela.
In Quezon province, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that a banca capsized in waters off Barangay Pagsanghan, San Francisco town, killing 12-year-old Junex P. Dilao.
Four of the banca’s passengers – Norafe C. Minggoy, 43; Jayvenz Adrian V. Heyrana, 11; Jallenz Andrey V. Heyrana, 9; and Nenifer F. Lim, 35, all of Pagsangahan – were rescued.
However, still missing as of yesterday were Abraham C. Heyrana, Sharona V. Heyrana, Feron Chester M. Cuezon, and a fourth person identified only by the surnamed Cuezon. The boat was on its way to Burias, Masbate, when it was slammed by big waves.
Meanwhile, a family’s supposed island hopping was halted when the boat they rented capsized in the waters near Dos Hermanos Island, Sitio Malingay, Barangay Balaoi, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, last Maundy Thursday.
Fortunately, all 25 passengers of the unnamed motorbanca were rescued, the Coast Guard Station (CGS) Currimao said.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) temporarily suspended the travel of tourists’ boat to Dos Hermanos Island, Sitio Malingay, Barangay Balaoi, Pagudpud town to give way to the investigation of the capsized boat.
It was reported that the rented boat by a certain Reagan Carter was suddenly capsized while loading passengers when it hit by strong waves at sea.
Senior Inspector Eduardo Santos, Pagudpud town’s chief of police, said the boat captain identified as Dominador Pasion is now subject to inquiry and investigation. (With a report from Betheena Kae Unite)