3 students drown in Benguet town river

BAGUIO CITY— Three high school students drowned on Friday (June 7) at a river in Itogon town, Benguet province, according to police.

Kyla Mae Fernandez and Angel Hernandez, Grade 9 students, and Dicky Catos, Grade 7 student, of the school Bless His Place Academy Inc. joined an unidentified male companion to gather firewood at Barangay Dalupirip when the girls decided to swim at a river nearby.

One of the girls started to sink, prompting two of her friends to attempt a rescue. All three, however, were swept by the river’s strong current. Police said they were inexperienced swimmers.

First responders pulled the students out of the water and rushed them to the Itogon District Hospital where they were declared dead. KIMBERLIE QUITASOL (Editor: Tony Bergonia)