Student drowns in Naga City

CEBU, Philippines - A second year high school student who went swimming with his classmates after taking the periodic test yesterday drowned in Barangay Langtad, Naga City.

The body of Marjun Canque, 14, was found floating a few hours after he went missing at 10 am yesterday while his companion, Panny Car Lastimosa, 14, remains in critical condition at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Canque, Lastimosa and Annabelle Dejito, 14, are second year high school students of Langtad National High School in Naga City.

PO2 Ronjie Nadarra, duty desk officer of Naga City Police Station, said the three with five other schoolmates went swimming near the Philippine National Corporation (PNOC).

Canque, Dejito and Lastimosa climbed the sea wall and jumped into the sea.

Canque jumped first and was carried by the strong current. Dejito and Lastimosa followed.

Lastimosa reportedly does not know how to swim.

Dejito tried to rescue Lastimosa but both of them sank as Lastimosa kept pulling Dejito.

Canque, who saw his classmates struggling, tried swimming towards them but he suddenly disappeared.

Danilo Librero, 27, a truckboy of PNOC saw the boys struggling and rushed to rescue them.

Librero was able to rescue Dejito and Lastimosa.

They tried to look for Canque but to no avail. His body was later found floating by the members of the Philippine Coast Guard and San Fernando firemen who conducted search and rescue operation. - THE FREEMAN