Three members of a family died after drowning in a river in Barangay Canabajan, Calinog, Iloilo on Saturday morning, March 14.
Authorities identified the victims as Toliong, 55; his wife Clarita, 48; and their 17-year-old son Ronjier. All were residents of the town.
According to Clarita’s younger sibling, identified as Alias Ranne, the victims were crossing the river when the slipper of Ronjier fell into the water.
Ronne reportedly attempted to retrieve the slipper but was carried away by the river’s current.
Seeing their son being swept away, Toliong and Clarita immediately tried to rescue him.
However, all three of them were eventually carried by the current and drowned.
Search operations were immediately conducted by rescue teams and volunteers following the incident.
After hours of searching, rescuers recovered the body of Ronjier in Barangay Canabajan.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the couple were later found in the area of Passi City, Iloilo.
Authorities have not released further details about the incident but confirmed the recovery of the victims.
The tragic incident left three other children of the couple without parents.
According to Ranne, the surviving children are now orphaned following the death of their parents and brother.
Local residents and responders assisted in the search operations to locate the victims along the river.
Drowning incidents during river crossings remain a concern in several communities, particularly when strong currents are present.
Authorities reminded residents to exercise caution when crossing rivers, especially during times when water levels and currents may be strong.
The incident has saddened residents of Calinog as the community mourns the loss of the three family members.
