CANDABA -- Two 18-year-old boys drowned while swimming in a flooded rice field near the under-construction Dukma Bridge in Barangay Paralaya here on Tuesday afternoon, August 22.
This town’s police chief Superintendent Paul Gamido identified the fatalities as Arvin Maun and Melvin Puno, who were reportedly with four other friends while swimming in an open rice field near the Pampanga River.
Gamido said that the victims, together with their friends, assist motorists passing by the Dukma Bridge to earn money, when they suddenly thought of taking a swim.
However, the supposed “break” turned into tragedy when strong currents took away Maun and Puno to the deeper part of the rice field.
“Nagbubuhat sila ng mga motor na tatawid sa tulay. Tapos nung hapon, siguro naisipan nilang magrelax, nagkaayaan daw mag-swimming. Hanggang sa malunod nga ang dalawang biktima,” he said.
The lifeless bodies of Puno and Maun were retrieved at around 4:00 pm, while their four other friends were rescued.
Gamido, meanwhile, said that they are not looking into any possible foul play since both the victims and their friends were aware of the strong water current.
“Wala naman foul play. Malakas kasi talaga ang alon doon, alam naman nila. Hindi lang nila na-control at tinangay sila,” he explained.
