2 minors drown in fishpond in Carcar

CEBU, Philippines - Two children, ages six and eight, met their untimely death when they drowned in a fishpond in sitio Nangkaan, Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City last Sunday afternoon.   Details of the drowning remain sketchy, but the boys’ father said his sons might have fallen into the pond where they usually fished.

The victims were identified as James Lloyd and Renz Sarsaba. They were supposed to return to school yesterday. James, eight, was an incoming Grade 2 student while Renz, six, was an incoming Grade 1 student at the Perrelos Elementary School.

SPO1 Reynaldo Fuentes said the boys’ father, Adonis, noticed that his sons were missing about 6pm Sunday. He and his live-in partner reportedly left the children at their house around 2pm when they went to Barangay Poblacion to buy school supplies for the kids.

When they could not find the children upon their return, they immediately sought the help of their neighbors in looking for the boys. It was during this time when Adonis decided to check the fishponds and later found his children in one. Adonis is the caretaker of the ponds himself.

“Luoy kaayo nagakos pa ang duha sa ilawom kay wala pa man kalutaw,” Fuentes said.

The children were taken to the Carcar City Hospital, but were declared dead on arrival.

Police suspected it was Renz who first fell into the fishpond and James possibly tried to rescue his younger brother. (FREEMAN)