17 dead in North Luzon provinces

CAUAYAN CITY—The bloated body of a woman was found at 7:15 a.m. on Easter Sunday at Cagayan River in Isabela province, one of the 17 who drowned during the Holy Week break, police said.

Nine of the victims drowned on Good Friday and Black Saturday in Isabela, while eight others drowned in Pangasinan province.

The woman’s body was found by residents of Barangay Napaccu Grande at Reina Mercedes town.

Police said she drowned on Saturday.

In Cauayan City on Saturday, cousins Rachel Domingo, Carla Jane Maramag and Rhea Labog were swimming at Cagayan River when they were taken by strong currents and drowned past noon, according to Isabela police.

In Ilagan City on the same day, Marvin Balisi, 27, swam after a drinking spree with friends at Pinacanauan River in Barangay Alinguigan 2nd, and was sucked into the deep portion of the river.

On Good Friday, Glen Mey de la Cruz, 19, fell into a deep portion of Lalog 2 River in Luna town, also in Isabela.

In Reina Mercedes town, Anthony Amin, 30, was swept by the strong current of Cagayan River.

In Angadanan town, Rodolfo Talamayan, 47, was crossing Cagayan River when he was swept by the river current and drowned.

In Echague town, a 60-year-old man was pulled by the river current in Barangay Garit Norte.

Floating body

On Saturday in Pangasinan, a 1-year-and-9-month-old boy drowned at Malasin River in Barangay Malasin in Pozorrubio town.

Also on Saturday in San Fabian town, Desimprado Garcia, 81, was swimming in Barangay Nibaliw when he fell unconscious and died.

In Alaminos City, the body of Kenneth Camba, 15, was found submerged in the waters off Bagbag Beach in Barangay Victoria on Saturday.

In Anda town, Darwin Castrence, 31, was found floating off Tondol white sand beach in Barangay Tondol on Saturday.

On Friday in Alcala town, Marjun Alnas, 25, a resident of Tarlac province, drowned when he dove into a deep portion of Agno River.

In San Jacinto town, a group of people on a picnic in Barangay Sta. Cruz found the body of Artemio Villegas, 35, in Limmingaleng River at 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

In Lingayen town, Louie Aviles, 34, drowned when he was swept by the strong current of Agno River.

Also on Friday, a 7-year-old boy drowned in a pool at a resort in Pozorrubio town. VILLAMOR VISAYA JR. AND GABRIEL CARDINOZA

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