By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two siblings died of drowning while swimming in a river in Dao, Capiz morning of April 2.
Police identified the victims as Benjamin Dizon, 15, and Maricel Dizon, 10, of Barangay Matagnop, Dao, Capiz.
Staff Sergeant John Rey Tercero, Dao police investigator, said residents retrieved the bodies of the two victims around 9 a.m.
Members of the Dao Emergency Response Unit rushed the victims to Dao District Hospital but they were declared dead on arrival.
Tercero said that Benjamin and Maricel went for a swim with some relatives at a river in Matagnop village.
Their parents were expected to come at a later time.
The two then took a dip at the portion of the river around 50 meters from where their companions were.
It was around 8:30 a.m. when the two were seen struggling to stay afloat.
Some bystanders came to their rescue but retrieved their bodies 30 minutes later.
Tercero said they have yet to talk to the victims’ parents following what happened.
