Gov’t researcher drowns in Basilan river

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — A young woman employed as a researcher at the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology drowned Saturday afternoon in a river in Maluso, Basilan.

Major John Cundo, Maluso police chief, said Desiree Mae Somobay, 26, of Zamboanga City, was taking a dip with colleagues at the locally famous Mahayahay Jacuzzi, a river resort in Maluso’s Barangay Upper Mahayahay when a sudden water rush occurred around 1:30 p.m.

According to Cundo, everyone was able to haul themselves out of the river safely except for Somobay, who was swept away by the raging waters.

Her body was found more than two hours later by a joint team of police, coast guard, Army, and local government rescuers.

She was rushed to a hospital in Isabela City but the attending physician said Somobay was already dead even before they reached the health facility.

Maluso Mayor Hani Bud said Somobay’s team was conducting research on the socio-economic profile of the town. /je