Sisters drown in Naga beach
Two teenage siblings drowned while swimming in a private beach resort in Barangay Langtad, Naga City Monday afternoon.
The victims were identified as Juicyphel Obal, 16, and her 13-year-old sister Juyce Obal, both residents of Basak San Nicolas in Cebu City.
The siblings, together with their father, were attending a birthday celebration at Guanzon Beach Resort.
According to initial police investigation, the sisters decided to take a dip at the beach even if they don't know how to swim. Unfortunately, the waves dragged them into deeper water.
The sisters' father, Jufil Quilano, a jeepney driver, was sitting inside an open cottage when he saw his children drowning.
Quilano rushed to rescue her daughters, but he only retrieved the body of Juicyphel, according to Police Officer 3 Jonathan Largo of Naga City Police Station.
The younger Obal submerged into the sea and went missing, said Largo.
Juicyphel was rushed to the South General Hospital in Naga City but was declared dead on arrival.
City Councilor Carmelino Cruz, the head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Office, said Juyce's body was found floating near the pier of Petronas Energy Philippines around 7:20 yesterday morning, roughly 16 hours after she went missing.
The pier is about 500 meters away from Guanzon beach.
The Philippine Coast Guard, Naga Bantay Dagat and police conducted a joint search and retrieval operation for the body of Juyce.
Furthermore, Cruz has drafted a recommendation to Mayor Kristine Chiong for the temporary suspension of the resort's operations.
The city disaster office found out that the resort lacks precautionary safety measures like employing a qualified lifeguard.
Cruz said the disaster team talked to the resort supervisor who admitted that their lifeguard was not able to respond to the incident because the latter went on an errand.
"Mohatag ko og recommendation nga dili usa paligoan basta wala pa sila'y trained lifeguards and other measures sa establishment," he said.
Mariani B. Algabre/KBQ