Tragedy in Toledo: Four teeners drown while picking shells

CEBU, Philippines - Four minors who were out foraging for seashells drowned off Barangay Dumlog, Toledo City, shortly before noon yesterday.

The companions of the victims did not even realize they were gone and were just surprised when a kid came running to them to tell them their companions had been rescued by fishermen.

Declared dead upon arrival at the Toledo City Hospital was Dindo Blanco, Joseph Blanco, and Jason Asuzenas, all of them were 14.

Dindo was a grade six student of the North City Central School while Joseph was in the fourth grade of the same school.

Another victim, Mae Ariate, 16, was still breathing upon reaching the hospital but later died. Doctors immediately gave her cardiopulmonary resuscitation but attempts to revive her failed.

Asuzenas and Ariate were both high school students also in the North City Central High School.

All victims were from Sitio Sipaway, Barangay Luray II, Toledo City. SPO3 Carmelito Hornales of the Toledo City Police Station said Luzminda Dino accompanied the minors to the seashore to forage some seashells.

Dino is the live-in partner of Flabiano Marata, the grandfather of Ariate and Dindo. Also with them were Paloma Blanco, 11, the sister of Dindo, and cousins Analee Ariate, 9; and Adonis Ariate, 10.

Hornales said upon reaching the shore the victims immediately went for a dip and swam out an estimated 100 meters away from the shoreline while Dino and the three others were left behind. Minutes later they noticed a commotion in the sea as the victims were rescued by fishermen and the kid came up to them telling them what had happened.

The victims were already unconscious when they were rushed to the hospital. “Maybe they swam off the continental shelf and no one was able to notice,” Hornales said in Cebuano.

It was high tide when they drowned yesterday.   Hertrudes Blanco, the mother of Dindo said it was Joseph who went off to the water first followed by Asuzenas and then her son. Hertrudes said the three did not know how to swim so while they were floundering they allegedly called for help from Ariate.

Haunted?

Hertrudes said Paloma told her there was a “tall man” in the sea who waved at them to approach him before he suddenly disappeared.

“Paloma told me there was a tall man in the water who kept waving at them but he disappeared,” Hertrudes said in Cebuano. Hertrudes added that she wondered why Dindo had a contusion in his forehead and Jason had human bite marks in his left arm. She added they have yet to decide where to hold the vigil of the victims. —/BRP (FREEMAN)