BATANGAS, Philippines – Three persons, including two students from the University of the Philippines (UP) and De La Salle University (DLSU), drowned at a private beach resort in Calatagan town here on Thursday, police reported yesterday.
Senior Superintendent Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas police director, identified the victims as Hosea Jizo Pinto, 17, of DLSU, and Therese Maria Cordero, of UP-Manila.
Meanwhile, Cordero’s father Ronald, 45, also drowned while trying to save her.
Pinto’s sister, Micah, told The STAR that his brother, along with his football team in high school, were having a reunion at the resort in Barangay Bagong Silang owned by their relative.
She said the group was chatting along the breakwater when a wave swept them away at around 1:30 p.m.
Micah said more than 10 people were carried away by the wave, but some of them managed to swim back to the breakwater.
Police said the Corderos were found by fishermen and were rushed to the Calatagan Medicare Hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.
Pinto’s body was found 17 hours later a few meters away from the shore of the village.