Man drowns at Kawasan Falls

CEBU, Philippines - A trisikad driver is believed to be already dead after he jumped from a raft at the Kawasan Falls in Barangay Matutinao, Badian town yesterday morning.

As of last night, his body has yet to be found.

A search and rescue operation was conducted by divers and the police to locate the body of 33-year-old John Rex Caramonte, who drowned at the Kawasan Falls at 8:30 a.m. yesterday.

Caramonte was from Tangke, Talisay City and went there supposedly to have fun with his family and friends.

Rosemarie Cabando, the victim’s live-in-partner, narrated that Caramonte jumped from the raft to the water.

Before this, she and their companions have repeatedly warned Caramonte not to take a dip on that part of the falls as it was dangerous to swim there due to the strong water current.

The strong current was reportedly due to the floods coming from the mountain.

The family of the victim remained at the area until last night to wait for the result of the search and rescue operation, but the victim remained missing as of press time.

It was not the first time that a tourist died in the falls, a favorite vacation site for local and foreign visitors.

One of the Korean students who were spending the Lenten Holidays at the falls died after jumping from the top of the waterfalls. He landed on a raft below instead of the water. This happened last March 2008.

A few days before that, another man who was a resident of Liloan town also drowned at the falls. (FREEMAN)