2 dead in Isabela drowning incidents, 1 still missing

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela – Two young people died while one remains missing following two drowning incidents that occurred in northern Isabela province Friday. Police said volunteer rescuers recovered at around 2:00 pm the bodies of Charmaine Fortin and Erwin Sy, residents of capital town Ilagan’s San Felipe and Calamagui villages respectively, both 15, and both third year students at the Isabela School of Arts and Trades (ISAT) in the same town. Reports show that Fortin and Sy were with three of their classmates who went for a picnic and to swim at the Pinacanauan River along Ilagan’s Malalam village. After a few hours, the victim’s companions reportedly noticed that their two friends were nowhere to be found, prompting them to seek help from residents nearby. The victims were found, and immediately rushed to Isabela Doctor’s General Hospital in the said town but were declared dead on arrival. An hour away in the town of Reina Mercedes, rescuers have yet to find the missing body of another presumed drowning victim, identified as that of 13-year-old Rogie Alcaraz. Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian said that locals in the area are helping the police in scouring the town’s side of Cagayan River for the victim’s body which was first reported missing at around 9:30 in the morning. Alcaraz reportedly left their residence in Reina Mercedes’ district 1 village early for a swim but failed to return home after a few hours.—Floro Taguinod/JV, GMANews.TV