Student's body found floating near the SRP

CEBU, Philippines - The body of a 22-year-old fourth year high school student who reportedly jumped into the sea Sunday was found floating near the South Road Properties in Mambaling yesterday.

The fatality was identified by his mother as Rodnick Rodriguez Labitad, a resident in sitio Little Hawaii in Cogon-Pardo and a student of Cogon-Pardo National High School.

PO3 Wetzel Berry of the Cebu City Police Office Homicide Section said Labitad, together with four of his friends, went to the sea Sunday afternoon. They borrowed a banca from a certain Inting.

According to Berry, one of the boys said Labitad suddenly jumped off the banca around 4:30 p.m.

“Minglayat ra siya og kalit kay mangaligo man to sila padulong. Posible nagpabilib to siya sa iyang mga kauban,” the investigator said.

Labitad’s friends reportedly saw him quickly taken further away by the strong current until he disappeared from their sight.

The personnel of the Bureau if Fire Protection, Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council, and the Philippine Coast Guard launched a search and rescue operation for Labitad.

Around 10 a.m. yesterday, they found Labitad’s bloated body floating near the concrete wave barriers. His face, which was believed to have hit a rock when driven away by the current, was filled with blood. (FREEMAN)