Minor drowns while swimming in Kabankalan river

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — An 11-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a river in Sitio Buyunan, Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Monday.

Police said the boy went to the river on Sunday with his two cousins and a friend to fish, and they later decided to swim.

The victim’s parents became concerned when he failed to return home that night.

His companions later informed the parents about what happened.

According to their account, the boy was swimming in the shallow part of the river but unknowingly reached a deeper area, where he drowned.

His companions tried to rescue him but failed as he quickly went under and could not be retrieved.

A search and retrieval operation was conducted by the city rescue team and the Philippine Coast Guard.

The victim’s body was recovered on Monday afternoon.

The boy’s 38-year-old father reported the incident to police that same day.