Elementary pupil drowns in river

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Rescuers retrieved the body of a 12-year-old girl yesterday, a day after she reportedly drowned at Matab-ang river in Barangay Zone 15, Talisay City, Negros Occidental last Tuesday.

The name of the victim, who was supposed to graduate from elementary next month, was withheld.

Police Captain Abegael Donasco, deputy chief of Talisay City Police Station, said the victim was invited by some of her friends to go swimming in the river.

She was with five companions when she suddenly went missing while they were swimming.

Search and rescue operation was conducted on Tuesday afternoon, but was temporarily postponed early evening due to low visibility and the safety of the rescuers.

The following day, rescuers received a call from a resident informing them about a person seen under the water.

At 11 a.m., rescuers retrieved the victim’s body in a river at Hacienda Santol within the same barangay, a few kilometers away from where she was reported missing.