2 girls drown in Pangasinan

By Gabriel L. Cardinoza

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan --  A family weekend outing turned into a tragedy when two girls drowned in the waters off Binmaley Beach in Binmaley town on Sunday, the Pangasinan Police Office reported on Monday.
    The police identified the victims as 13-year-old Charisse Pensona Marcillos, a Grade 7 student; and 16-year-old Gladys Abegail Sarol Ballesteros, a Grade 12 student.
    The girls, both of Barangay Patayac in Santa Barbara town, were swimming when they were caught in a rip current which carried them away from the beach.
    The girls' grandmother, Fe Almario Ballesteros, 71, noticed the two girls struggling to get back to the shore and shouted for help.
    One of their companions, Jonathan Nevado, 43, immediately plunged into the water but was unable to reach the two girls because of the strong current.
    Nevado, himself, ended up being rescued by Bantay Dagat members, who had arrived to respond to the emergency.
    The two girls were immediately taken to the Lingayen District Hospital here, but the attending physician pronounced them dead on arrival.