7 drown in Batangas during Holy Week

BATANGAS, Philippines – Seven people drowned in different places in this province during the Holy Week, police said.

Senior Superintendent Alberto Supapo, Batangas police director, said Timoteo Reyes, 19, was sailing with his friend at Balayan Bay in Mabini, Batangas when their boat capsized due to strong current and big waves at around 5:30 p.m. on Maundy Thursday.

Reyes was thrown off into the water and drowned. His body was retrieved the next day some 50 meters away from the coastline, police said.

In Lemery town, Gener Bolante, a resident of Lipa City, was swimming along the beach of Balayan Bay in Barangay Nonong Castro with his friends when he drowned at around 9 a.m. also on Maundy Thursday.

Also in Lemery town, Philip Malapitan, 31, drowned at the Rico Beach Resort in Barangay Cahilan II while swimming with his friends on Good Friday.

In Alitagtag town, Jake Lescano, 21, drowned at Taal Lake also on Good Friday.

Meanwhile, in San Nicolas town, two friends, identified as Jenilyn Bathan, 20, and Roger Patrick Malaluan, 22, drowned while swimming at Pansipit River in Barangay Bangin that day, too.

The seventh victim was 17-year-old John Bernard, a resident of Quiapo, Manila, who drowned in Barangay Calayo, Nasugbu town on Black Saturday.

Witnesses said Bernard was last seen swimming with a cousin some 40 meters away from the shoreline when he disappeared.

Fisherman found and rushed him to the Apacible Memorial District Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.