Three students drown in Palawan: OCD

November 2, 2017

Three students died in a drowning incident in the province of Palawan on Wednesday.

In a report, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) identified the fatalities as Laiza Mantana Mayo 21, a Grade 12 student , Catherine Mantana Apolinario, 13, a Grade 7 and Katrina Mantana Apolinario, 12, a Grade 6 students and all residing at Brgy. Salvacion, Busuanga, Palawan.

The report  said the students were swimming in Demachickchick River, Sitio Demegan, Brgy. Salvacion when they drifted to the deeper portion of the river and drowned at around 2:15 pm.

“Their cousins tried to help them but was not able to save them,” it stated.

The victims were rushed to Busuanga Rural Health Unit after they were recovered at around 2:50 pm of the same day but they were declared dead by the Municipal Health Office Nurse.

The OCD in Mimaropa considered the incident as caused by Tropical Storm Ramil.

State weather forecaster Nicos Penaranda said the weather disturbance has hit Northern Palawan on November 1 after it developed into a tropical depression in the morning of the same day.

OCD Mimaropa also recorded another incident off the waters of Puerto Galera where a motorized boat  named MB King Jonel capsized around 12 noon also on Wednesday.

“The motorized banca capsized 20 meters near the shoreline of Sabang, Puerto Galera while traversing the route from Sta. Clara, Batangas to Sabang, Puerto Gallera,” the report said.

No casualties were recorded after a total of nine passengers and crew including six Chinese national were rescued by the divers from Sea Queen Resorts. Robina Asido/DMS