Two 5-yr. olds drown while playing in Chico River, Bontoc

Bontoc, Mt. Province - Two five-year-old kids died over the weekend after they drowned in the Chico River in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

The victims, hidden in their native names “Foman-eg” and “Paspas”, were both residents of Barangay Bontoc Ili, Bontoc.

Based on the initial investigation, the two kids were said to have gone to the river to play that day.

As cited by the Bontoc Municipal Information Office, the Bontoc Emergency Operations Center received a call from the Bontoc Emergency Response Team about a drowning incident at around 3:20 p.m. that day.

In response, the Bontoc Emergency Operations Center formed teams from the Bontoc MPS, BFP- Bontoc, Municipal Health Office, MDRRMO, Bontoc Emergency Response Team, family members, and community volunteers to rescue the victims.

When the rescuers arrived at the river, particularly in Sitio Cheppay, Foman-eg was already retrieved by his father. The father rushed his son to a hospital nearby, but Foman-eg was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m. by the attending physician.

Paspas, meanwhile, was retrieved by the responders at around 3:56 p.m. Pulmonary resuscitation attempts were made at the incident site to save his life, but he did not survive.

The two were later brought home to their residences for the wake.