Farm helper drowns in Pampanga River

JAEN, Nueva Ecija — The body of a 19-year-old farm helper who fell into the Pampanga River was recovered on Wednesday, authorities said.

Marzan Mateo, head of the municipal disaster risk reduction management office, said it took them more than 24 hours to retrieve the body of Elden Villacura from a portion of the river near a quarry site in Barangay Sto. Tomas South here.

Investigators said Villacura and his companion were washing empty sacks at the shallow portion of the river around 8 a.m. on Tuesday when he lost his balance.

A rescue team found Villacura about a kilometer downstream.