CEBU CITY — The waterfalls in Catmon town, northern Cebu where three persons were killed after they were swept by flashflood was not permitted for public use.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will investigate why there were people swimming in Tinubdan Falls in Barangay Tabili, Catmon when the municipal government did not issue a permit for its commercial use.
Tragedy struck around 1 p.m. last Sunday when people frolicking at the foot of the falls were swept away by rampaging muddy water.
While some were able to escape to safer grounds, three persons were killed.
The body of Jude Monterola, 17, was found about eight hours after the incident.
Seven-year-old Princess Alastra was found around 11:30 a.m. last Monday while the body of her 32-year-old mother Jacel was found past 1 a.m. on Tuesday off the waters of Carmen town, northern Cebu.
The rampaging water sweeping the victims away were caught on video.
Monterola was seen in the middle of the gushing water hanging on to dear life as other people in the area desperately tried to save him.
Monterola tried to reach for a piece of wood but the rampaging water caused him to lose grip and was swept away.
Police Col. Engelbert Soriano, chief of CPPO, said policemen have been deployed in the area to make sure that the place will be off limits to the public.
Soriano said part of the investigation is to determine who permitted the victims to hold a picnic in the area.
Former Catmon Mayor Dan Modiquillo Jusay, who is now a member of the town council, said the area where the watefalls is located is a private property.
"It was not developed by the local government unit as a tourist destination because it is considered a dangerous area," said Jusay.
A placard at the entrance of the area indicated that people who would swim in the waterfalls would pay P50 as donation, Jusay said.
Jusay said the area is prone to flooding as it is near the main river of Catmon.
Jusay added that at the time of the incident, families coming all the way from Cebu City and Tuburan town were having a picnic in the area.
Wilson Ramos, interim officer of the Provincial Distaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said there were around 100 people swimming in the area when the deadly flashflood happened.
The three fatalities were part of family of 11 frolicking in the waterfalls.