Man drowns in Liloan

CEBU, Philippines - A third-year high school student died after he drowned in the seawaters off Pepito’s Beach Resort in Barangay Jubay, Liloan town, around Sunday noon.

The victim, Meljohn Tampus, 19, of Barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion was reported missing around noon that day.

He was found underwater three hours later.

Insp. Lamberto Hibaya, of the Liloan Police Station, said Tampus arrived at the beach resort with his relatives around 10 a.m. that day.

As the group was grilling pork for their lunch, Tampus decided to go for a swim.

When he failed to return his relatives started to worry.

They called the police and sought the assistance of Liloan paramedics who were also around.

After he was found around 3:45 p.m. paramedics tried to revive him but failed.

Hibaya said Tampus appeared to have a cut in his mouth that may have been caused when he collided with a hard object. They surmise he dived in water too shallow and was knocked unconscious when he made contact with rocks.

The family of the fatality believes there was no foul play in the incident and declined to have his body autopsied.

The body of Tampus is now at the Maturan Funeral Homes in Lapu-Lapu City. (FREEMAN)