PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Two sisters and their cousin died Wednesday in a river in the town of Busuanga in northern Palawan in what was considered a Tropical Depression Ramil-related drowning incident.
The victims, who died in Demachikchik River in Sitio Demegan, Barangay Salvacion in Busuanga, were identified Wednesday afternoon by SPO2 Rolando Bernas of the town’s municipal police station as Grade 7 Catherine Apolinario, 13, and Grade 6 Katrina Apolinario, 12, who were sisters; and their cousin Laiza Mayo, 21, all residents of the barangay.
They were part of a group of eight friends and relatives who went on a picnic by the river.
Bernas said the three drowned shortly before 3 p.m.
“Initial investigation revealed that after hearing mass in the morning, they and their friends decided to have a picnic in the river. When they were already swimming, one of their companions was brought to a deep part of the river where the current was strong. The one being rescued held on to one of the victims, then the three of them held each other, but the current was strong and they did not know how to swim,” he said.
The police officer said actually five persons held on to one another, but two were saved.
The three victims were rushed to the Busuanga rural health unit, where they were declared dead.
“The three were not saved since they strayed in a much deeper part of the river. It was their friend who called for rescue, and the team from the MDRRMO immediately responded but to no avail. The rain wasn’t really strong here, but the river current was really strong and they didn’t know how to swim,” Bernas added.
MDRRMO is the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office.
In an interview with reporters, Busuanga Mayor Beth Cervantes confirmed the drowning deaths, saying the municipal government has already extended help to their families.
“It’s really a sad incident. We are extending support to the families of the three victims since we also heard the parents of the two siblings are in the hospital too,” Cervantes said.
She said that despite ‘Ramil’, the rain was not that strong in Busuanga.
“Actually, the reason why the MDRRMO was able to respond at once was that we were ready for ‘Ramil’,” the mayor said.
Busuanga, which is in the Calamianes Group of Islands, northern Palawan, was put under Signal No. 1 by the state weather bureau.
As of 4 a.m. Thursday, ‘Ramil’s’ center was estimated at 230 km. west of Coron, Palawan, with maximum winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph, and was moving west at 15 kph. (Celeste Anna Formoso, Ruth Rodriguez/PNA)
