5 dead, 2 rescued in river mishap

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Heavy rains poured as their banca sailed across the Pampanga River in San Luis town yesterday morning.

And the unexpected happened: the banca capsized, leaving five people, three of them minors, dead and two others rescued.

Hours of search later yielded the bodies of Alvin Guevarra, 30; his children Aldrey, 9, and Jovelyn, 8; and his sister Rhea, 33; and Nigel Lucero, 9, a relative.

Their companions, Lienard Sieza, 14, and Michael Galaredo, 34, survived by hanging on to water lilies until a fisherman rescued them, according to Senior Superintendent R’Win Pagkalinawan, provincial police director.

The victims were all residents of Baesa, Quezon City and were just vacationing with their relatives in San Luis. They were reportedly crossing the river for a picnic on a sandy portion on the other side when tragedy befell them. – Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes