Boy, 16, drowns in Pototan river

ILOILO – A 16-year-old boy was found dead a day after he reportedly drowned while attempting to retrieve a ball in a river in Barangay Dongsol Ilaya, Pototan town.

The victim with known developmental challenges was discovered by rescuers at around 12:02 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, around 800 meters from where he was believed to have entered the water.

According to Philippine Tigers Rescue Group commander Felipe Galeno, the boy was last seen Saturday morning, around 11:30 a.m., near the banks of the river where he often wandered.

Galeno said residents recalled seeing him sitting quietly near the edge of the barangay road earlier that day, and playing with other children near a waiting shed. A local fisherman later spotted a hand appearing from the water and immediately alerted barangay officials, prompting a search and retrieval operation.

During the rescue efforts carried out by the personnel of the Pototan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Philippine Tigers Rescue Group, two balls were also seen floating downstream, one of which may have been the object the boy was trying to retrieve. Investigators believe the boy was pulled into the deeper part of the river by the strong current.

Barangay officials said the boy’s parents were initially unaware of his whereabouts. A cousin later told authorities that the boy had speech difficulties and developmental delays, but often roamed around the area alone./PN

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