BAUKO, Mountain Province – Two laborers drowned while fishing in a lake in Barangay Mayag, Bauko, Mountain Province, on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Police identified the victims as Mayzzon Vicente Batatas, 24, and Czar Jay Vicente Opag, 20, residents of Barangay Kayan West, Tadian, Mountain Province.
Investigation by the Bauko Municipal Police Station said the victims, along with some friends, arrived in Lake Lanas at around 10 a.m. for a picnic.
The victims went fishing in the middle of the lake around 3:30 p.m. but Bataas reportedly fell off the boat. Opag tried to rescue to Bataas but they drowned.
The incident was reported to the police at 5:30 p.m. and the Bauko MPS, Bureau of Fire and Protection, Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office and Tourism Office, and some residents carried out a search and rescue operation.
Rescuers found the remains of the victims at 7:28 a.m. on Thursday.