By Danny Estacio
VICTORIA, Laguna — A boat loaded with snails sank in the middle of Laguna Lake last Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the drowning of two persons – one of them still missing – police in this municipality reported.
(Photo courtesy of Tony Hidalgo via Flickr / MANILA BULLETIN)
Police said a third occupant of the boat, 37-year-old Mark Cruz, managed to swim to shore and seek help for his companions.
Cruz, who along with two other duck farm workers set out to the lake to gather snails, told police that their boat took in water and sank around 4:30 p.m.
Rescue operations were immediately conducted by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), whose personnel retrieved the body of Norlito Tope, 66.
As of press time Thursday afternoon, Edgardo Corcuera, 54, the other occupant of the boat, remained missing.