Boy, 6, drowns in fish pond

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A 6-year-old boy died from drowning in a fishpond at City Proper district, Iloilo City morning of Sept 25.

Police identified the victim as Marty Jamolo, a resident of Barangay Tanza-Bonifacio, City Proper, the area where the fishpond is located.

Staff Sergeant Victor Teodoro Jr., Iloilo City Police Station 1 investigator, said the body was fished out of the water almost two hours since the time he was believed to have downed.

Rosito Peregil told the police that he was fish feeding around 9 a.m. on Sunday when he saw something foreign in the middle of the pond.

Peregil said he immediately asked for assistance to determine if what he saw was a hand waving for help.

His doubts grew stronger after he saw some coins near the pond and a pair of slippers.

Several residents dived into the water to search for the boy.

Rescuers from the Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Police, and civilian volunteer groups were also called in to help.

The boy’s body was later found at 10:40 a.m. at the bottom of the fishpond, which was about 10-12 feet in depth.

The victim was rushed to Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival at 10:55 a.m.