PNP: One dead, two missing in Holy Wednesday drowning incidents

One teenager died while two others were missing in separate drowning incidents on Holy Wednesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday. 

PNP spokesperson and Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said that a 16-year-old boy drowned while on a family trip in Panabo City, Davao del Norte. 

The police said the teenager was allowed by his mother to go swimming with his cousin. 

After an hour, the mother noticed her son was not around, prompting her to seek assistance from the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and a standby rescuer in the area. 

The victim’s body was retrieved at 4:40 p.m. 

He was immediately brought to the Panabo City Emergency Clinic but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at about 5 p.m. 

Meanwhile, authorities are searching for two male 14-year-olds who went missing after swimming in the Cagayan River in Barangay Natappian East in Solana, Cagayan. 

The PNP said the victims swam to the other side of the river to go home but drowned in the middle of the journey. — VBL, GMA Integrated News