• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
A 21-year-old man drowned at a beach located at Purok Talisay, Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday noon.
The victim was identified as Vincent Iwayan, a 21-year-old male and resident of the barangay.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim was accompanied by three minor companions who went to the beach to swim.
According to the witnesses, while they were swimming, the victim jumped into the water but failed to resurface. After approximately ten minutes, his minor companions sought assistance.
After a few minutes, Iwayan was eventually recovered by his uncle who immediately responded to the minors’ call for help.
Personnel from the Sagay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, who responded to the report of the incident, attempted to resuscitate the victim.
However, after several unsuccessful attempts, the victim showed no signs of life, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
According to the victim’s companions and family, the victim was known to be a strong swimmer. It is possible that he may have suffered from muscle cramps while swimming, which could have contributed to his drowning.
The cadaver of the victim was brought to the funeral parlor and will undergo postmortem examination, police said.
DEAD BODY FOUND
Authorities discovered the lifeless body of a senior citizen at Purok Mainawa-on, Barangay Taba-ao, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.
The victim was identified as the 68-year-old grandmother named Cristita Katalbas, a resident of Purok Manzanilla A, Barangay Old Sagay.
Based on the eyewitness accounts, the victim was seen, observed to be heavily intoxicated, having placed a pair of cycling shorts over her head, while walking in a disoriented and zigzag manner along the roadside.
The witnesses theorize that the victim accidentally fell on the side of the road, struck her head on a stone, lost consciousness, and subsequently drowned in a shallow puddle of water. However, the claims were still for verification.
The cadaver will undergo postmortem examination.*
