Four minors in Hermosa, Bataan died after drowning at the Almacen River this Tuesday.
The victims were identified as AC Magtanong (aged 11), AJ Magtanong (aged 11), Reynalyn Magtanong (aged 13), and Gabriel Santos (aged 11), all of whom were residents of Hermosa.
According to Barangay Captain Herman Layug, Chairman of Barangay Almacen, he received news on the drowning incident around 3:16PM. Residents brought the victims to the ambulance aboard a tricycle.
Layug was told that the victims were with their father before the incident.
“Noong malingat ‘yung mga magulang, wala ang mga bata sa likod niya at nakatakas na pala sa kanyang mga paningin at nakapaligo na pala sa Ilog Almacen. At hindi naman napansin ng mga mamamayan ng Almacen na may naliligong bata dito sa ilog” (The father lost sight of his kids and later found out that they snuck out and went bathing at the Almacen River. The residents were also not aware that there were kids in the river).
The river is 10 feet deep, making rescue attempts difficult. The father of the victims refused to give any statement. – Bernard Jaudian, Jr.
