Five persons drown in Pangasinan

AGNO, Pangasinan – Five persons drowned last Saturday afternoon while swimming off the coast of Barangay Aloleng here.

Police Officer 1 Elisa Gacusan of the Agno police told The STAR that the rescue teams from the police and the Philippine Coast Guard recovered the bodies of Rose Ann Mapala, 18, Vanessa Orania, 13, Charles John Orania, 11, Danzel Mae Manikan, 12, Glamore Rivera, 14, all residents of Barangay Tuque Grande of Bani town.

The bodies were recovered off the coast of nearby Sual town.

The lone survivor Oliver Rivera, 10, was rescued and was treated by Dr. Joseph Lopez, the municipal health officer of Agno.

Rescue teams recovered the bodies of Orania and Mapala last Saturday while the other fatalities were found only last Sunday.

Police said the victims were swimming at the shallow portion of the beach when strong waves carried them out to the open sea.

Investigators said the older companions of the victims were left at the beach resort.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard reported that a passing vessel rescued the two fishermen Victor Caasi and Nathaniel Rocaberte when their fishing boat capsized near Bolinao Island in Pangasinan last Saturday afternoon.

One of their companions Elloc Irindio remained missing.  

The M/V Indamex Godavari was passing by Bolinao Island when it spotted the capsized boat. – With Evelyn Macairan, Cesar Ramirez