Negrense boxer drowns in river

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A body of a Negrense boxer was retrieved from a portion of Tabla River between the boundaries of Barangay Balicotoc, Ilog town and Barangay Magballo, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental yesterday.

Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) officer Gido Padilla, identified the victim as Robert “Toto” Landero, 26, of Barangay Canlamay, Ilog town.

Padilla said that Landero allegedly tried to cross the river to go home despite the heavy rains last Monday.

“Malangoy gid siya bisan taas tubig,” he added.

However, Landero was swept by the strong river current and was reported missing on Monday afternoon.

Padilla said he only received a report about the drowning incident on Tuesday night, a day after the actual incident happened.

Padilla said Landero’s family and the barangay LDRRM conducted search and rescue operation until his body was found yesterday around 10 a.m.

Landero was widely known in the local boxing scene. He started his boxing career in 2013.

His last fight was in Cebu City last month, where he lost to Christian Araneta. He had a record of 11 wins, 8 losses, 2 knockouts and 2 draws.