Siblings drown in Capiz river

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Two siblings drowned during a family outing in Dao, Capiz yesterday morning.

The bodies of Benjamin Dizon, 15, and his sister Maricel, 10, were recovered at around 9 a.m. by members of the Dao emergency response unit, according to case investigator S/Sgt. John Rey Tercero.

The victims were declared dead on arrival at the Dao District Hospital.

Tercero said the minors and their relatives went out to swim in a river in Barangay Matagnop.

Police said the victims were seen struggling to stay afloat at around 8:30 a.m.

Bystanders and other excursionists tried but failed to rescue the victims.

Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, three persons also drowned in separate incidents in Bolinao and Agno towns on Saturday.

Police identified the victims as Maxine Bandoquillo, 9; Rafael Licup, 31, and Nestor Ubano, 58.

Bandoquillo was declared dead on arrival at the Rillera Medical Hospital after she reportedly drowned at a resort in Barangay Patar, Bolinao.

Licup was also declared dead on arrival at the same hospital after he was reportedly found unconscious at another resort in the same barangay at midnight.

Ubano was declared dead on arrival at the Dasol Community Hospital after he reportedly fell off a banana boat and drowned in Barangay Baruan, Agno town. - Cesar Ramirez