Girl, 10, drowns in Ecija river
CABANATUAN CITY – A 10-year-old girl drowned while her seven-year-old cousin remained missing and the latter’s sister was rescued after the trio went swimming in a river here on Monday.
Police identified the fatality as Princess Anne Payumo, a grade school student, a resident of Purok Ilang-Ilang, Bgy. Mayapyap Sur, this city.
City police chief Lt. Col. Carl Omar Fiel said the body of her cousin, Daren Franco, 7, has yet to be recovered as search and retrieval operations are still underway at the drowning site in Sitio Putol, Bgy. Mayapyap Sur of the Pampanga River here.
He said Daren’s elder sister, identified as Jamaica Franco, 12, was rescued by an unidentified fisherman.
Princess Anne’s body was recovered by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and brought to the Premiere General Hospital here but she was declared dead on arrival.
Investigation showed the trio went swimming at 12:50 p.m. with Danilo Franco, father of Jamaica and Daren and after which, the three young victims were seen drowning before sinking in the water.
Police said they are still investigating the incident.
