2 pupils drown in Isabela river

By Dexter A. See

JONES, Isabela — Two Grade III pupils of a public elementary school here died from drowning after they went swimming with friends in a river in Barangay Sto. Niño last week.

A report from the Jones municipal police station identified the victims as Jomar Vesta, 10, and John Mark Baligod, 9, both pupils of the Sto. Niño Elementary School and residents of the barangay.

Investigation showed the boys, together with four other classmates, went swimming in a nearby river to beat the summer heat.

Witnesses said the children started pushing each other towards the middle part of the river but unknown to them, the two boys fell into a deep portion and disappeared in the rushing waters.

The other children and witnesses immediately sought the assistance of barangay officials and rescuers but their efforts were in vain because of the depth of where the boys drowned.

Their bodies were recovered several hours later, their arms wrapped around each other.

The drowning incident was not the first in the area, but many children still venture into the river from time to time.