FLORIDABLANCA -- A 12-year-old girl drowned due to the strong water current at the Summer Place in Sitio Palakol, Barangay San Jose in this town last Sunday, May 7.
The victim, identified as Ronalyn Lacanlale, was a resident of Telabastagan, San Fernando City. She went in the area with friends and neighbors in an excursion that resulted into a tragedy.
According to Arnold Salvador, driver of the jeepney which Lacanlale and her neighbors boarded, he advised the victim not to go anywhere after they had their lunch, as they were preparing to go home.
Salvador narrated that he and his companion saw three boys, all with dark complexion, looking at them. All of a sudden, the current grew stronger as the water level rose.
They then noticed that Lacanlale was already missing.
"Nung mawala po si Ronalyn, nakita ko na lang yung tatlong maitim na bata na nakatingin sa amin ng aking pahinante at sinabihan ko na bakit hindi sila naliligo. Nabigla na lang po ako nung makita kong tumaas bigla ang tubig at biglang nawala ang tatlong bata. Pagkakita po namin kay Ronalyn nalunod na po siya," Salvador added.
With this, San Jose Barangay Chairman Arnel Lopez warned elders to keep an eye on their children as the village cannot all secure visitors in the place.
"Hindi po natin masu-supervise lahat ng naliligo dito ng dahil sa malawak po ang Summer Place. Ang hinihiling lang po natin sa ating mga magulang na bantayan ng husto ang kanilang mga anak sa kanilang paliligo sa ilog," Lopez furthered.
Based on the records of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, since January 2017, five had reportedly drowned at the Summer Place.