Boy drowns in Balamban river

CEBU, Philippines - A seven-year-old boy died after he drowned at a river in Sitio Kalag-itan, Barangay Buanoy, Balamban while taking a swim with his older brother last Monday afternoon.

Family and neighbors found Ghino Juanillo Modeno, a grade one pupil, floating early morning last Tuesday at the said river.

SPO1 Julius Obañana of the Balamban Police Station said Modeno asked permission from his parents to go with his 10-year-old brother and his friends to take a swim at the river. His parents agreed.

The parents thought that Modeno and his brother would proceed to the Buanoy Elementary School that afternoon.

Obañana said the brother reportedly started looking for Modeno when he noticed him missing but failed to locate him.

The older brother went home at that time without telling his parents of what had happened.

“Pagkabuntag na nisulti ang igsuon nga pwerte nang pangita sa inahan ug didto nakit-an na naglutaw,” Obañana said in a phone interview. (It was only in the morning when the brothers told the parents.) — (FREEMAN)