The bodies of the two male friends who drowned at Lanas Lake in Bauko, Mountain Province have been brought home.
The Bauko Municipal Police Station identified the victims as Mayzzon Vicente Batatas, 24, and Czar Jay Vicente Opag, 20, both of Kayan West, Tadian, Mountain Province.
The Bauko MPS reported the duo went to Lake Lanas together with friends at 10 a.m. on Dec. 21 to have a picnic.
But around 3 p.m. the victims were riding in a bangka in the middle of the lake to fish, when it suddenly capsized causing them to fall into the water.
Opag noticed his friend Batatas, who did not know how to swim, struggling which caused him to come to his aid.
In turn, both of them drowned.
The victims’ friends reported the incident to the Bauko MPS, which immediately coordinated with the First Mountain Province Provincial Mobile Force Company, Bureau of Fire Protection-Bauko, Bauko municipal rescuers, Mayag barangay officials and residents to help rescue the two.
It was 7:30 a.m. the next day that the bodies of the victims were retrieved.
The remains of Opag was transported to Kayan West while Batatas remained at Mayag, Bauko prior to being transferred to his hometown after the elders conducted a ritual.
The police remind the public to be on their guard even this holiday season especially when vacationing outdoors. –Ofelia C. Empian
April 19, 2024
