2 college friends drown, 2 missing in waters off Northern Samar village

CATARMAN, Northern Samar — What started as an outing among college friends ended up in a tragedy.

Three teachers and a government employee were swept by a strong current while swimming in the waters off Barangay Cabatuan in Palapag town, Northern Samar about 9 a.m. on Friday.

Two were found dead by Cabatuan residents, floating on the waters near the rocky portion about 11 p.m. of the same day.

They were Artemio Mejos, 27, a teacher in Naparasan Elementary School in Mapanas town; and James Dulay, 30, an employee of the local government unit in Laoang.

Still missing were Reynalda Adora, 30, a teacher in Bliss Montessori San Andres, Manila; and Leonard Adarayan, 32, a teacher in Pamplona Elementary School Unit I Las Piñas City.

A search-and-rescue operation was being conducted by the Palapag Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).

Initial police investigation showed that the four were classmates in college who decided to go on a picnic at the Cabatuan beach, a popular destination here due to its rock formations.

According to Police Staff Sergeant Edmark Calda of Palapag police station, the four friends chose to swim in an isolated area of the beach.

While swimming, the group was hit by big waves and strong current.