• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Two individuals reportedly drowned in a separate incidents on Monday, in the towns of Candoni and Cuayan in Negros Occidental.
In Candoni, a 35-year-old married male was found dead at the riverbank located at Purok Chichirica in Barangay East.
The incident was reported by an informant, and upon the arrival of the Candoni Municipal Police Station at the scene, they saw the lifeless body of the victim on the riverbank, wearing a blue t-shirt and brown shorts.
Further investigation revealed that according to the brother of the victim, a day before the discovery, they were crossing a spillway located at Sitio Panacmalan, in the barangay. The victim allegedly slipped and was carried away by the strong current.
His brother further sought help from the people nearby, but failed to rescue his brother.
The cadaver was brought to the Candoni Rural Health Unit and will undergo postmortem examination.
On the same day, another drowning incident was reported at Purok 9, Brgy. Poblacion, in the town of Cauayan.
The 48-year-old victim was found lifeless beneath the Cauayan Bridge located in the area, at around 10 p.m. on Monday.
Investigation disclosed that, according to the wife of the victim, at noon on Monday, the victim was riding on his improvised bamboo raft drifting along the river. Due to the strong current, the victim accidentally fell into the water.
According to the wife, the victim did not know how to swim, as the family members and nearby residents immediately searched for the victim but failed to locate him, prompting them to seek assistance from the Cauayan Rescue Team.
After the discovery, the cadaver was brought to a health care facility for proper disposition.*
