Two kids drown on Christmas Day in Dingle

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

Losing a child is painful. But the death of two children was doubly unbearable for a family in Dingle, Iloilo.

Glen Pelingon partly blamed himself for the death of his sons, 10-year-old Mike Glen and 9-year-old Jorex, while in his care.

Late morning of Dec 25, 2020, Glen decided to wash his motorcycle at the Jalaur River, which is several hundred meters away from their house at Barangay Calicuang, Dingle.

Since the two kids didn’t know how to swim, their father repeatedly told them to stay at the edge of the river.

Mike Glen and Jorex immediately took off their shirts while Glen washed his motorcycle.

He allegedly saw the boys take a dip in the river.

He went on with his work until he noticed that he could no longer hear their voices.

He repeatedly called their names, but he received no answer.

Glen went to the nearest houses and asked his neighbors if they saw his sons. But none saw the boys.

He again went back to the river and looked for them thinking that they were just playing.

When he didn’t get a glimpse of the boys, he dived into the river.

After a few attempts, he asked for help from his cousins.

One of them later saw and scooped out the boys who were hugging each other when found.

Glen theorized that one of them tried to rescue when the other one got drowned.

Staff Sergeant Leo Ron Anerdis, Dingle police investigator, said the victims were still rushed to Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town but were declared dead on arrival.