Three persons, including a minor, died in separate drowning incidents in Victorias, Hinoba-an and Himamaylan, reports from the Negros Occidental police and Philippine Coast Guard said.
Police investigations show that Ramil Panes, 26, of Barangay 2, Victorias City was reported missing on New Year’s eve after leaving a drinking session with his friends to check on his family because of the flood.
His body was found the next day at the shoreline of Villa Miranda in Barangay 6-A, Victorias, said police chief Lt Col. Eduardo Corpuz.
In Hinoba-an, eight-year-old Justine De Leon drowned while on a swimming outing with his father and three siblings in Purok 4, Barangay Asia, the Philippine Coast Guard reported.
Rescuers tried to save De Leon but he was declared dead at the Eleuterio Decena Memorial Hospital in Hinobaan, ther report said.
A certain Junjun Solomon, 22, was also declared dead on arrival at the Valeriano Gatuslao District Hospital, after he drowned on Jan. 1 at a beach resort in Sitio Batang, Brgy. Talaban, Himamaylan City.
Maj. Romeo Vargas, Himamaylan City police chief, said that Solomon and other members of his family were having a drinking spree at the Belgium Resort prior to the incident.
Solomon, who was reportedly drunk, went for a swim on the beach by himself and was later found unconscious by a certain Shyrie Anne Liboon, initial police investigations show.
The victim was immediately brought to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival by Dr. Michelle Villagomesa, Vargas said.– GB
