Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 9) — Over 60 people drowned in separate locations during the Holy Week, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Weekend, PNP spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo reported that at least 62 people have drowned in beaches and swimming pools as of 6 a.m. of Easter Sunday.“Nakita natin sa report, particularly yung mga minors po, napabayaang naglalangoy sa dagat at biglang napunta doon sa malalim na bahagi. Yung iba naman po sa swimming pools,” Fajardo said.[Translation: We saw in the report, particularly the minors, they were left on their own to swim at sea and they suddenly found themselves in deep water. The others drowned in swimming pools.”]Fajardo reminded the public to be vigilant and keep an eye on children while swimming.According to the PNP official, among the victims were adults who could not swim and got caught in strong currents in deeper parts of the water.Fajardo said most of the fatal incidents occurred in Regions 1, 3, and Calabarzon.The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday helped in retrieving the remains of 36-year-old Marvin Battad in waters off Barangay Alaguia, Lal-lo, Cagayan.Battad was earlier reported missing by his family.“Based on the investigation, the victim was on board an unmotorized boat and decided to swim into a deeper portion of the vicinity waters,” the PCG said. “He failed to get back on board his boat which drifted away until he went missing.”The coast guard also responded to a drowning incident in the waters of Barangay Lipit, Dipaculao, Aurora on Friday.36-year-old Carlito Badil and 28-year-old Japet Subang were swimming when they were caught by big waves and got separated, according to the PCG.Subang made it to the shoreline while Badil’s body was discovered later by authorities.The PCG also assisted in rescuing a near-drowning victim — 19-year-old Benjie Malaga — near Barangay Bagu, Abulug, Cagayan on Friday.
