By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz —A 13-year-old girl drowned while swimming at the beach in Barangay Punta Cogon, Roxas City around 4 p.m. on March 18.
Police identified the victim only by her alias, “Edna,” who was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician at Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital.
According to her cousin, alias “Yenyen,” the victim was swimming with her older sister, alias “Joan,” 16, when they were hit by a strong wave.
Joan tried to rescue her sister but was also struck by a wave, and the younger girl was lost in the water.
Joan then ran to shore to ask for help from bystanders.
It took about an hour before the victim’s body was recovered.
The girl was accompanied by her mother and three siblings at the time of the incident.
It was learned that her parents were separated.
The father was unaware that his estranged wife had traveled to Roxas City and assumed she would arrive from Negros with two of their children at the end of the month.
