Two girls drown in pond in Pototan, Iloilo

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Two young girls died from drowning in a dugout pond in Barangay Amamaros, Pototan, Iloilo, late afternoon on Dec. 14.

Police identified the victims only as Rean, 13, of Amamaros village, and her 9-year-old friend and neighbor, Euna.

According to Capt. Beberly Cataluña, Pototan deputy police chief, the two victims went to play near the pond at around 3 p.m.

The dugout pond, located in the middle of a rice field, was unfenced.

It measured about 500 square meters and had a depth of approximately 5.7 feet.

They were accompanied by three other young girls.

Initially, the group was playing and chasing each other before Euna jumped into the pond to swim.

Police investigators believe she may have misjudged the pond’s depth.

When Euna failed to resurface, Rean dove in to try and rescue her.

She also failed to surface.

This prompted their three playmates to run for help.

The Pototan Municipal Police Station received the report of the drowning incident at around 4 p.m.

Police, along with the Pototan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, launched a rescue operation.

Cataluña said the bodies of the two girls were recovered at around 4:40 p.m.

They were brought to the Iloilo Provincial Hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.