Boy drowns in Toledo

CEBU, Philippines -  A 13-year-old boy drowned in a quarry site near a creek in Barangay Ilihan, Toledo City last Friday afternoon.

Mark Queen Hantica, who apparently did not know how to swim, drowned in a pond in sitio Kalubihan which was created through constant excavation by the nearby Obeso Sand and Gravel.

The victim, a resident of Barangay Magdugo, was with his younger brother Marlon and two other minors when the incident happened at 2 p.m.

SPO4 Gil Lastimosa of the Toledo City Police Station said the pond was wide and deep.

A certain Tukyog Sombelon who lives near the place saw the victim struggling and tried to rescue him but was too late.

The unconscious boy was rushed to the Toledo City District Hospital but physicians declared him dead on arrival.

The police are still investigating on the incident and are also studying the possible liability of the quarry operation in the area.

Lastimosa, however, said that the quarry operation is legal and children are not advised to swim in the ponds.

“Wa ma’y nakabantay nila para mabadlong unta. Unya ang pangutana sad ani, asa man diay ang ilang ginikanan?” Lastimosa said. (The question is, where were their parents?)

Meanwhile, an octogenarian was found hanging dead on a tree in Barangay Guadalupe, Carcar City last Friday morning.

The fatality was identified as Valentin Eliorda, 86, a widower.

PO2 Rosendo Benondo of Carcar City Police Station said it was the victim’s daughter, Jocelyn, who discovered his body.

After waking up at 6 a.m., Jocelyn opened the windows of the house and was surprised to find her father hanging dead under a cacao tree outside.

In an interview with the police, Jocelyn said they did notice the victim worrying over something although he requested the other day for a medical check-up and asked to be accompanied to a priest for a confession.

 The family was convinced that there was no foul play on what happened and so the body was no longer subjected to an autopsy.  (FREEMAN)