Man drowns trying to save goat in Ilocos Norte

VIGAN CITY, Philippines - A man drowned while trying to save his goat which was trapped in a 30-foot artesian well in Ilocos Norte. Authorities identified the victim as Roland Manzano, a resident of Batac City, the newest city in the northern Philippine province with 47,682 people in 9,882 households. Police investigation showed that Manzano carried out the heroic feat after seeing his goat fall into a well in Sitio Nagcalauan, Barangay Tabug at around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Just like a professional rescuer setting up a rescue plan, Manzano brought out a long bamboo pole and a piece of rope and called out his wife for assistance. PO3 Marvin Pascua, chief investigator of the Batac City police, told GMANews.TV that the courageous man then dove into the half-filled well to rescue his goat. "Sabi ng mga kapitbahay, malakas ang loob niya nung tumalon siya. Kasi dati na rin pala niyang ginagawa na tumalon lagi doon sa balon na iyon (Neighbors recounted how brave Manzano was when he leapt. Anyway, he has been doing it ever since)," Pascua said. Manzano's efforts however were put to waste after he realized that the goat he was saving had already died from drowning. Nevertheless, Manzano began to carry out his rescue plan to get himself and his goat out of the confines of the narrow well. His wife, who was watching from the mouth of the well, hurled one end of the rope down to his husband. Manzano then tied the tether around his goat before his wife pulled its lifeless body out of the basin. When it was Manzano's turn to climb out the well, he started crawling his way up with the aid of the bamboo pole. However, halfway into the ascent, things turned for the worst as the already exhausted victim fell back into the water and drowned. Pascua said that a similar incident happened in the past involving a man being bullied and thrown down into the well. "Pero dito, wala namang foul play at walang nagtulak sa kanya. Isasara na rin namin itong kaso na ito (There was no foul play here and no one pushed the victim. This case is closed)," Pascua added. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV