6-year-old boy drowns in Olongapo river

By: Allan Macatuno - 9 years ago

OLONGAPO CITY—A six-year-old boy drowned in a river in Barangay (village) Old Cabalan here on Thursday afternoon, a village official said.

Ronnel Fonseca had gone swimming with his four friends before noon without an adult chaperone, according to village chief Basilio Palo.

Palo said the river water was less than knee high, however, a previous dredging operation there left deep holes near the riverbank, where the boy may have drowned.

Police and rescuers responded to the scene but failed to save the victim. Palo said authorities will put up a warning sign along the riverbank to discourage swimming in the said part of the river. RAM