Girl drowns in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines - The body of a five-year-old girl was found in a river in Navotas City Thursday night, seven hours after her mother reported her missing.

Kin Edeza Matiansala’s mother, Aifie Suan, last saw her child playing with her friends near the river at around 2 p.m., according to Senior Police Officer 2 Alvin Bautista.

When she returned after tending to her other child, she noticed that Matiansala was not among the children playing in the area, said Bautista.

The mother immediately reported the incident to the local disaster office, which sought the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard to search for the girl.

Matiansala’s body was found at around 10 p.m. near where she was last seen by her mother and friends. The girl had drowned, police said.