WHILE the faithful mourned as they recalled Jesus Christ’s death last Holy Saturday, the families of three boys in Cebu Province have more reasons to agonize: the children drowned.
The first incident happened in Barangay Olivo, Tabuelan town where Larry Agudo, 8, was found dead in the seawater at 9 a.m.
PO2 Daryl Rondina of Tabuelan Police Station said the victim was together with his family when he suddenly went into the deep portion of the sea.
“Nataligam-an lage nila. Tungod kay di kahibaw molangoy, mao ‘tong nalumos (They didn’t notice. And because he didn’t know how to swim, he drowned),” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
The boy’s family searched for him, but when he was discovered, he was already lifeless.
“Wala na lang nila gidala sa hospital kay wala patay naman gyud (He wasn’t brought to the hospital since he was dead),” Rondina said. He was a grade two pupil of Kantubaon Elementary School.
Bantayan
Meanwhile, five-year-old John Ivan Esgana also died off Barangay Marikaban, Sta. Fe., Bantayan Island.
PO3 Marino Cajes of Sta. Fe Police Station said the boy was found by a fisherman floating in the water at 1 p.m.
Brindo Pacinio immediately informed the boy’s mother Analyn, who brought Esgana to Bantayan District Hospital. The victim didn’t make it alive.
Dr. Lee Pua, the attending physician, said the boy died from second-degree drowning. This means the victim inhaled fluid that acted as an irritant inside Esgana’s lungs that reduced the ability to exchange air.
Toledo City
In Barangay Magdugo, Toledo City, a swimming session with friends in a river turned tragic after a boy drowned.
PO2 Emmanuel Arago of the Toledo City Police Station said Hans Cajocson, 10, was found dead at 2:30 p.m.
His friends searched for him and found him already unconscious. He was brought to the hospital, but died on the way there.
Arago, in a phone interview, said there was no foul play in the incident.
“Aksidente lang gyud ‘to. Wala lang mabantayi (It was an accident, no one noticed),” he said.