‘Barkada’ picnic turns tragic as river ‘swallows’ teenager
GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO (Bailen), Cavite – A supposed happy picnic of four friends on Saturday ended in tragedy after one of them drowned in a river in this town.
Cpl. June Lopez of the Bailen Municipal Police Station identified the victim as John Andrew Dimandal Pineda, a resident of Bgy. 705, Malate, Manila.
According to Lopez, friends John Ugali, Rentor Igoy, Michael Legaspi and Pineda decided to hold a picnic at the Dump River in Bgy. Lumipa, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Cavite at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday
The “barkadas” were enjoying the water when the victim went to the deep part of the river.
Moments later, the friends noticed Pineda was gasping for breath.
Pinedas friends tried to rescue him but failed to save him. They then decided to call for help.
Rescuers found the victim’s body after more than three hours.
The victim was rushed to the GEA Rural Health Unit, where he was declared dead on arrival.
