Two children drowned while swimming with a cousin in a river in Tayabas City, Quezon province, on Sunday, police said.
According to Quezon police, the victims – identified only as ‘Roberto,’ 11, and ‘Gabriel,’ 11 – were swimming with their cousin ‘Janel,’ 13, in the Mayao River, which lies along the boundary of Tayabas City and Pagbilao town, at 10:10 a.m.
The children had reportedly gone to the river without their guardians’ permission.
Investigators said that a strong current swept away Roberto and Gabriel into a deeper part of the river. Janel ran to seek help from relatives, but rescuers arrived too late.
Police said Roberto’s body was later recovered from a deep section of the river, while Gabriel’s was found along a rocky portion near the riverbank.
Authorities are conducting further investigation and will subject the bodies to post-mortem examinations to determine the exact cause of death.
For now, police have classified the case as an accidental drowning