Another drowning victim recovered

The death toll in the capsized banca accident in Manila Bay last Sunday morning rose to four yesterday after Manila policemen recovered the body of a four-year-old girl.

Western Police District homicide detectives said the bloated body of four-year-old Arjay Villafuerte Mendoza, of 1273 Int. 24. San Andres, Bukid Manila, was recovered at about 8:45 a.m. near the Coconut Palace at the bay’s reclamation area.

Detective Dennis Javier said Arjay was the cousin of two-year-old drowning victim Jhelyn Villafuerte, who earlier died while being taken to the Philippine General Hospital.

Initial investigation showed that Arjay and Jhelyn along with Jhelyn’s mother Elsa Villafuerte, 31; brothers Jonathan, 11, Jason, 8, and Enrico, 14; her godmother Gina Bantog, and Ernesto’s aunt Liza, 24; were trying to cross the Manila Bay from the Cultural Center of the Philippines toward Pasay City aboard a banca when the accident happened.

Police said the victims’ banca was battered by strong waves as it neared Roxas Boulevard across the Grand Boulevard Hotel and then capsized. – Mike Frialde