GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — Two elementary graduating girls drowned while swimming in the Peñaranda River in Barangay San Vicente here Friday.
Another girl nearly drowned and is now being treated at a hospital.
The fatalities were identified as Rachelle Mae Balingit, 13, of Barangay San Lorenzo; and Melanie Dawaton, 12, of Barangay Bayanihan, both of this city.
Rica Mae Santiago, 15, also of Barangay San Lorenzo, remains at the intensive care unit of a local hospital.
Police investigation showed the three girls, along with seven other classmates, went out of Gapan South Central School at about 12 noon to go swimming in the river.
The drowning incident happened at about 1:30 pm, police said.
Balingit was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital while Dawaton was found lifeless at around 9 p.m. on the same day, the police said.
Joy Dawaton, 19, Melanie’s elder sister, said her sister was very excited about her graduation. The girl, who never had a cellphone, actually requested for one, which the family was working hard to fulfill.
Balingit, on the other hand, had requested a relative to have her hair rebonded on graduation day in April, said her mother Michelle.
Dawaton and Balingit, who were best friends, would attend to a religious fellowship during non-school days, relatives said.
Both Joy and Michelle though sought further investigation on the death of the two girls due to reports they ventured into the deep portion of the river when a bolo-wielding man allegedly gave them a chase.
Michelle claimed her daughter was wearing a t-shirt and pants when recovered.
Leth, a classmate, said they were 10 of them, nine girls and a boy, who went to the river after the class was dismissed at noontime.
But only five of them swam, she said.
Officer-on-case P02 Alvin dela Cruz said the incident is still being investigated. (Marilyn Galang/PNA)
