Two of the victims placed on body bags after the retrieval operations. MindaNews photo courtesy of
91.3 X FM San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 5 December) – The bodies of three of the five drowning victims at a beach in Lianga town, Surigao del Sur were recovered at 6:35 a.m. Tuesday, after two days of search and retrieval operations.
The cadavers of the two others were found earlier.
The five victims, all teenagers, were swimming at the private Baubo Beach Resort when big waves washed them deeper away from the shore. They were never seen 20 minutes after they were spotted gasping for breath and shouting for help.
The incident took place at 3 p.m. Sunday, a day after the powerful Magnitude 7.4 quake that struck nearby Hinatuan town.
The victims were identified as Carl Dave Hingpit, 19, and his younger brother Philip Ian; Regie Permito Jr., 17; and Napoleon Mutya Jr., 17, and his older brother Ivan. They are neighbors in Barangay San Vicente in Prosperidad town, Agusan del Sur.
The lifeless body of Napoleon Jr. was seen floating hours after the incident while his older brother was retrieved a day after on Monday, November 4.
Fishermen Ricky Abayon and Frian Arcay found the floating bodies of the three other drowning victims near the Baubo Beach Tuesday morning.
The victims were celebrating the birthdays of two young girls, and also thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest of Napoleon Mutya, Sr., the father of two of the victims.
In a phone interview, Ricardo Hingpit, father of the two victims who works as tractor operator of Mutya Sr.’s ricefield, said he saw his son Philip Ian and close friend Regie, swam 15 meters away, or about shoulder deep, from where he stands at the beach.
He said he saw them already crying for help when big waves slammed them farther away and were never seen thereafter.
The same tragedy befell the three other victims, who were just a few meters away from the coast when big waves slammed them towards the deeper part of the shore.
Hingpit said the weather was fine at the time, with many beach goers having fun and picnicking.
He blamed the absence of life guards at the resort, who he said could have saved the lives of his sons and their three other neighbor friends. (Chris V. Panganiban / MindaNews)
