3 drown, 4 rescued in a beach party tragedy in Iloilo
ILOILO CITY — Two persons drowned and three others, including two children, were rescued after a birthday party in a beach resort in Oton town in Iloilo turned tragic on Saturday.
Senior Insp. Raymond Celoso, Oton police chief, identified the fatalities as Ervin Gabarra, 35, and Rodolfo Gabarra Jr., 46. The rescued were cousins Rodnel Gabarra and Mark Gabarra, both 11 years old, and Rodolfo Ladiana, 50.
The victims were among family members from Janiuay town in Iloilo who were having a birthday party at the Anhawan beach resort in Barangay Poblacion in Oton, around 7 kilometers south of Iloilo City.
Celoso said the two children were swimming when they were swept by strong waves around noon.
Ervin, Rodolfo and Ladiana, uncles of the two boys, tried to rescue the children but they were also carried by the strong current.
Other family members and residents near the area pulled the victims from the water, according to Celoso.
Rodolfo was pronounced dead on arrival at the Great Savior International Hospital in Iloilo City while Ervin died around 7:30 p.m.
Also, a 16-year-old boy drowned and another was rescued in a beach resort in Tigbauan town in Iloilo on Sunday amid the celebration of the feast of St. John the Baptist.
John Vincent Dumago, 16, a college freshman from Iloilo City died while his classmate Rommel John Delcoro, 16, survived after they were swept by strong currents around 2:15 p.m. at the Coco Grove Beach Resort in Barangay Tan-Pael in Tigbauan, 25 kilometers south of this city.
PO2 Paulo Matunding, investigator of the Tigbauan police station, said the two victims were among a group of schoolmates who were having a party and celebrating the Feast of St. John the Baptist at the resort.
Residents near the resort came to the rescue of the victims but Dumago was pronounced dead on arrival at the Guimbal District Hospital where he was brought.
The feast of St. John the Baptist is traditionally observed by the Catholic faithful by going to the beach or by splashing water on revelers to symbolize the baptism of Jesus Christ by the saint. /INQUIRER
