DAVAO CITY — The 16-year-old teenager first drowned in Bgy. New Malitbog, Panabo City, Davao Del Norte on Holy Wednesday.
The victim swam with his cousin but after an hour he was nowhere to be seen.
The family immediately sought the help of the city disaster office, the Bureau of Fire and other rescue agencies.
Hours after, the victim’s body was discovered lifeless and immediately taken to the Panabo City Emergency Clinic but was declared dead on arrival.
On the same day, the 14-year-old friend drowned while swimming in the Cagayan River.
In the initial information of the authorities, the 4 friends managed to bathe in the river.
The bodies of 2 victims were recovered today, Holy Thursday afternoon.
On Holy Thursday morning, an 8-year-old boy drowned while bathing at a resort in Tacloban City.
The PNP reminds parents to keep an eye on their children especially during outings and bathing in the pool, river or sea.
The PNP also advised the management of resorts or sights to have a public announcement system for public safety.
According to the PNP’s record during Holy Week or from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday in 2022 and 2023, drowning cases and the number of deaths increased.
In 2022, 19 incidents were recorded of which 10 were dead. In 2023, the number of drowning incidents hit 63 with 68 deaths. Most of the victims are men.
“If we look at the distribution of that by region, the highest recorded death is in Region 4A or Calabarzon, followed by Region 1 and Region 5,” said PNP spokesperson Police Col. Jean Fajardo.
