Child dancer drowns in river ahead of fest

Daryl Yuson, who asked his mother to buy him a new pair of slippers days before, won’t be able to dance for Liloan town’s Rosquillos Festival two days from now.

Yuson, a 12-year-old grade 5 student was found dead yesterday afternoon or a day after he was swept by raging river waters in Liloan town, northern Cebu.

Yuson was found at a portion of the river in sitio Casantos, barangay Cabadiangan in Liloan town or about two kilometers from where he and fellow dancer Nestor Jocutmaya were swept away in nearby barangay Mulao at 3 p.m. last Thursday.

However, Jocutmaya, a son of a barangay councilor, was rescued by their companions.

Liloan police precinct deputy chief Insp. Socrates Medillo said Yuson, Jocutmaya and other Rosquillos dancers were rehearsing in barangay Mulao when they decided to go to the river.

Daryl’s 56-year-old mother Merlyn said Daryl went to the Mulao River together with his four friends, Lian Malabon, 12; Kent Durano, 12; Jomar Ace Lancaag, 12; and Jocutmaya Jr. 11, son of Mulao barangay councilor Nestor Sr.

Merlyn, a farmer, said the five boys went to the river to look for the drummers for their dance rehearsals for the town’s Rosquillos Festival on Monday.

Medillo said Yuson and Jocutmaya went swimming in the river while the other children remained at the riverbank.

Later, one of their friends at the riverbank saw the raging waters barreling down the mountainside and alerted the two.

Medillo said Jocutmaya immediately positioned himself at the top of the rock but Yuson failed to do so and was swept away.

Jocutmaya reported the incident to Daryl’s parents.

Since the water was getting deeper, the other children grabbed a vine and used it to pull Jocutmaya to safety.

Medillo said policemen and barangay officials in Mulao immediately searched for Yuson.

The search ended at past noon yesterday when Mulao barangay captain Ben Tanjay informed them they found Yuson’s remains at a portion of the river in sitio Casantos.

It took almost 20 hours before the missing boy was found by rescuers in sitio Kasantos, barangay Cabadiangan at 12:50 p.m. yesterday.

PO2 Niel Vincent Guingona of the Liloan police said the runoff water from the heavy rains in the mountains passed through the river.

In an interview, Merlyn said she discouraged her son from attending the dance rehearsals.

However, she said Daryl insisted on joining and asked her to buy him a pair of slippers because his old one got worn out from attending the dance rehearsals.

Merlyn said she didn’t have enough money to buy him slippers. She also said she is asking for assistance from local officials and anyone because her family doesn’t have enough money to buy him a coffin.