THE mayor of Tuburan town in midwest Cebu has promised to give assistance to the family of the 13-year-old girl who drowned in Molobolo Spring on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
"Ako na giingnan nga patagaan og assistance ang pamilya sa bata (I already gave an instruction to give assistance to the family of the child)," Tuburan Mayor Danilo Diamante said on Monday, May 23.
Because of the incident, Diamante is now planning to assign a policeman with the help of some municipal workers to guard against residents who would want to swim or do their laundry in the area to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
"Actually, amo lang nang pabutangan og gwardiya diha kay di man jud mapugngan naay moadto. Kung mahimo sad mabutangan og temporary nga lifeguard. Hatagan natu'g dakong pagtagad kay aron secured sad ang atong katawhan (Actually, we just have to put a guard there because we can't stop anyone from going. If possible, a temporary lifeguard will also be placed. We will pay more attention to ensuring the safety of our people)," Diamante said.
He said despite being closed to the public due to undergoing renovation, many residents would still want to go to the spring by taking the alternate route.
"Wala pa na gi-open for tourist...ang adult wa pa sad na gi ablihan. Manulod lang sa kilid, molusot lang ba naay uban manglaba na diha (It hasn't been opened for tourists yet ... and also the adult (pool). They would just sneak in through the sides, with some doing their laundry there," said Diamante.
Based on the investigation by the police, the 13-year-old from Barangay Cogon, Tuburan attended a birthday celebration along with her younger sibling and later had gone swimming in the area.
The girl reportedly swam farther underwater but failed to resurface.
Some witnesses rescued the victim and brought her to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physician.
Corporal Noel Villaceran of Tuburan Police Station said the Molobolo Spring is not that deep, adding that they will conduct further investigation to determine other possible causes of the girl's death. (ANV, TPT)