3 minors drown in Las Piñas

MANILA, Philippines — Three minors drowned in Las Piñas City after they played in the rain and took a dip in an excavated area of a construction site on Monday afternoon, authorities reported yesterday.

Reports said the fatalities were Renz Lian Aquino, 7; Arkin Xavier Haresco, 9, and Alwayne Ross Tandoc, 12, all residents of Bernabe Compound in Barangay Pulang Lupa Uno.

They were lifted one after the other from the water that accumulated in a pit near a construction site, police said.

The minors were rushed to the Las Piñas District Hospital where they were declared dead on arrival.

According to the relatives of the victims, they did not know that the minors went to the area to play in the rain.

Witnesses said Aquino and Haresco jumped into the pool of rainwater and drowned, prompting Tandoc, the eldest of the three, to save them.

Tandoc also drowned while trying to save his friends.

The families of the victims requested for financial assistance for the burial of the minors.

Tropical Storm Maring brought moderate to heavy rains in different parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila.