Teen drowns as boat capsizes in Isabela

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Philippines — A 14-year-old girl drowned when a motorboat capsized in Ilagan City, Isabela yesterday morning.

The boat with several passengers on board was crossing a river in Barangay Cabisera when it was battered by strong winds and waves.

The other passengers tried but failed to save the girl, who reportedly did not know how to swim.

The victim’s body was found floating several meters away from the site of the accident.

Meanwhile, in Negros Occidental, a 16-year-old girl was found floating in a river in Cadiz City yesterday, two days after she was reported missing by her family.

April Bacato, who was reported missing on Dec. 9, was found in the Panikion River in Barangay Cabahug, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

Bacato’s body bore 11 stab wounds and was in a sack when found by a villager, police said.

Lt. Col. Gil John Despi, Cadiz City police chief, said a followup operation resulted in the arrest of a suspect, whose identity was initially withheld pending investigation.

Despi said probers reportedly recovered some of the victim’s belongings at the suspect’s house including a knife believed used in the killing.