Boy, 12, drowns at cousins' invitation to swim

CEBU, Philippines - A 12-year-old boy was already lifeless when found by his cousins after he drowned at the Gothong wharf in Barangay Looc, Lapu-Lapu City Friday afternoon.

Marlo Binabaya, a resident of Sitio Carajay, Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City was pronounced dead by a doctor at the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital where he was brought by concerned citizens.

His parents, after knowing the incident, were grieving because they did not know that their child left their home.

Police investigation revealed that the victim, together with his cousins Ivan Rey Ginoslango, 14, and Niño Ginoslango, 11, also of Barangay Gun-ob, went swimming at the wharf at around 2 p.m.

It was learned that the victim didn't know how to swim but he was reportedly encouraged by his cousins to jump into the water two meters deep, assuring him that they were going to catch him at once.

When Marlo jumped, his cousins were not able get hold of him so he submerged and no longer surfaced.

With the help of other people at the wharf, the cousins tried to rescue him by using a bamboo strip hook and dragged him to the shore, but to no avail.

In Mandaue City Friday night, a notorious robber was arrested by police after he was seized with an unlicensed firearm near reclamation area.

Dominador Tuñacao, 38, a resident of Sitio La Purisima, Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City is currently detained at the Centro Police Station pending the filing of an illegal possession of firearm case against him.

That night, PO2 Ariel Gingco and his team were on roving for a police preventive patrol since a lot of people were in the nearby malls and restaurants in celebration of Valentine’s Day.

They spotted Tuñacao along A. Soriano Street, who according to police, was looking suspiciously as if waiting to prey on victims.

Gingco approached him, prompting the suspect start walking away but the police cornered him. Seized from him was a .38 snubnose revolver with three live ammunitions without legal documents.

According to the police, the suspect has been in and out of  jail after being involved in several robberies in the city.