BY NYARIKA DOMANAIS
ILOILO – A Senior High School student drowned at a beach resort in Barangay Namocon, Tigbauan, Iloilo.
The deceased was identified as 19-year-old Frank Tayhopon, a resident of Barangay Isian in Tigbauan.
A classmate, 18-year-old Julius Lagunday, survived.
The local police reported that a group of 13 students had gone to a nearby vacant lot, which was adjacent to their On-the-Job Training (OJT) site, to swim on April 26.
Of the group, eight boys chose to swim while five girls opted to play volleyball. The tragedy unfolded when, after their activities, the group noticed that Tayhopon and Lagunday were missing.
Rescue efforts commenced immediately, with the Tigbauan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Philippine Coast Guard leading the operation.
Lagunday was found conscious within 30 minutes and has since been declared stable.
However, Tayhopon was recovered an hour later and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Guimbal District Hospital.
Tayhopon’s body has been transported to Quring Funeral Homes in Leon, Iloilo./PN
