2 siblings drown in Ecija river
SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija – Two siblings aged 14 and 12 drowned while swimming in a river here on Friday afternoon.
Police head Major Abraham Atencio identified the fatalities as Eleazar Velasquez, 14, Grade 8 pupil, and his younger brother, Cooper, 12, Grade 5, both of Bgy. Julo, this town.
A companion of the victims, identified as Justine Catdon Bangga-Bangga, 12, told police they were playing and swimming in the river when Cooper suddenly sought help after diving into the deep portion of the water.
Eleazar immediately swam forward to rescue his brother, but both accidentally sank, prompting the girl to seek help from nearby residents.
However, the two victims could no longer be found and were believed to have drowned and still submerged in the river.
Atencio said he immediately coordinated with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) for the search and retrieval operations of the two victims.
