THE body of one of the three boys who drowned at the Moroboro Dam in Dingle town, Iloilo province. (Dingle MDRRMO)
ILOILO CITY – Families of three boys will welcome the New Year without them after they drowned while trying to cross a river at Moroboro Dam in Dingle town, Iloilo province.
Authorities identified the fatalities as 11-year-old Angelo, 12-year-old Jim, and 13-year-old Jar.
“The local government unit extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims during this difficult time,” said the Dingle municipal government in a statement on Wednesday, Dec. 31, after the third body was recovered.
The victims were among six boys who went to the Moroboro Dam to swim last Tuesday, Dec. 30.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said Angelo was the first to slip into the water.
Jim tried to rescue Angelo, his distant cousin. But Jim was also swept away by the strong river current. This prompted the other boys to jump in an attempt to rescue them.
None of the boys asked permission from their parents to go to the dam.