Lay minister, 5-year-old son drown

CEBU, Philippines – A 27-year-old Catholic Church lay minister and his 5-year-old son drowned after they were swept away at the overflowing Tabuay River in Mabinay, Negros Oriental last Saturday.

Initial police investigation showed Brother Junrey Abueva, his wife and their son were crossing the river when the waters suddenly swelled, carrying them downstream, said Senior Inspector Leopoldo Ijan, the town’s police chief.

Abueva tried to save his son but both were separated from each other, while his wife was able to cling to some plants and survived, Ijan said.

The body of the elder Abueva was recovered in Barangay Manlingay around 3 p.m., about 500 meters from where they were carried by the swelling river, while his son’s body was found at a river in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental early yesterday.