Two 14-year-old boys drown in Cagayan River

This photo shows an aerial view of the Cagayan River in Cagayan province, northern Philippines, on August 3, 2023. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / POOL / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — Two 14-year-old boys drowned in the Cagayan River on Wednesday, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP spokesperson, Colonel Jean Fajardo, said the unnamed victims and two others went swimming at a portion of the river along Barangay Natappian East in Solana.

“The two victims decided to swim across the other side of the river bank purposely to go home, but while they were in the middle of the said river, the victims drowned and up to this time failed to appear,” Fajardo told INQUIRER.net, citing a police report.

No other details were provided on whether authorities were able to retrieve their bodies.

READ: LGUs ordered to enhance safety to prevent Holy Week drownings

To avoid more drowning fatalities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier ordered local government units (LGUs) to enhance their personnel deployment.

On March 22, DILG Undersecretary for Peace and Order Oscar Valenzuela said the agency, through a memorandum, directed LGUs to activate their peace and order councils and their local risk reduction and management councils to prevent such incidents.

On the other hand, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said 7,000 police officers would also be deployed in tourist areas like resorts and rivers to monitor the deployment of lifeguards and ensure public safety.