Mystery shrouds drowning of three

CEBU - Three siblings died after drowning at the Sungabon falls in barangay Campo Siete, Minglanilla town Saturday noon.

It was learned that the three fatalities identified as Michelle, 21, and a 2nd year high school student; Charity, 12, a grade 3 pupil; and Erwin, 7, a grade 1 pupil, all surnamed Geonson were supposed to only be having a leisurely stroll in the area when the incident happened.

Their parents were not however with them as their father, Eduardo, was gathering firewood while their mother, Porperia, was washing clothes in a nearby area.

Witnesses said that the youngest of the three siblings jumped into the ten-feet deep water but apparently he doesn’t know how to swim. Charity saw her brother trying to keep himself afloat and also jumped into the water to save him, but just like Erwin she also did not know how to swim.

Michelle, the eldest, also jumped in hoping to save her younger siblings, but she reportedly did not know how to swim and all three of them drowned.

Barangay officials were quick to blame the supernatural beings for the tragedy that struck the Geonson family.There were other people near the area when the incident happened, but they were not also able to help since they also don’t know how to swim.

Elsa Repunte, barangay captain of Campo Siete, said that the area where the siblings died is ‘hilan’ or is known to have the presence of supernatural forces and many incidents that could not be explained have already happened there.

She recalled that back in 1993 that a 13-year old girl also drowned not far from the spot where the three drowned.

“De-malas man g’yud nang pangalang Sungabon. Mao’y tabi-tabi nga dunay mga engkanto anang lugara, ‘nya naay mantaga daw diha sa tubig, kanang mura’g kugita ba. Hilan g’yud ang maong lugar,” Repunte said.

If it is any consolation, the barangay officials plan to put up a sign at the place warning the people of the danger that lurks including the believed presence of a giant ‘octupus’ that they believe pulls the innocent bathers down to perdition.

There is also a plan to fence off the area, which is part of the Mananga river, to discourage the people from taking a dip.

SPO1 Renato Masangacay of Minglanilla police said that their station only learned about the incident Saturday evening.

SPO4 Remegio Elacion, officer-in-charge, together with other policemen went to the area, which is about 30 kilometers from the town proper, to investigate.

The three victims were reportedly rushed to the Minglanilla District Hospital, but were declared dead on arrival.

The municipality of Minglanilla is shouldering the burial expenses of the three victims.

A relative of the victim said that the barangay and some neighbors also contributed for the embalmment of the bodies.

The victims will be buried today.

Last October 30, a similar incident also happened in barangay Cambang-ug, Toledo City where two sisters died of drowning.

In that incident, seven-year-old Bernadette Traña and her sister Mary Ann, 10, both died while crossing the river.

Bernadette was carried by the river current and Mary Ann tried to save her, but unluckily they drowned. — with reports from Guam Logronio of Banat News/NLQ (FREEMAN NEWS)