• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A volunteer public school teacher drowned in Candoni, Negros Occidental while four fishermen earlier reported as missing were already found, reports of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council showed.
Candoni municipal disaster risk reduction management officer Eric John Monserate said on Monday, Oct. 28, that responders found the body of Regie Magbato Benio, 28, on Sunday.
He was swept by flood waters while crossing the Kabilokan River in Sitio Calamonding, Barangay Gatuslao.
Magbato Benio, who was volunteering at Calamonding Elementary School, and his brother Jojo attended the birthday party of their cousin, Ricky Macapagong, on Saturday night.
At about 10 p.m., Monserate said he decided to go home ahead of his brother.
The next day, the body of Magbato Benio was found floating on the river downstream.
Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Irene Bel Ploteña confirmed that the two fishermen, Joren Parochil, 22, and Edwin Hinojales, 17, both residents of Cadiz City, were found alive in Nabugto Island of Masbate on Oct. 26.
They were reported missing on Oct. 24.
Ploteña said that the two fishermen are now undergoing medical examination, pending their return to Cadiz City.
The two other missing fishermen from Valladolid town identified as Jose Carlo Jurial, 52, and Robin Fajardo, 42, were rescued at sea on Oct. 26, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Their fishing boat was damaged while sailing between Negros Occidental and Guimaras.
Both were floating in the water for several hours before they were rescued the next day. | GB
