THE Easter Sunday drowning of a boy somewhere in Opol beach has spoiled an otherwise peaceful observance of Holy Week in Cagayan de Oro and other places in Northern Mindanao.
Amid fears of spillover of the bloody encounter between the Abu Sayyaf group and government forces in Bohol, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said the city’s observance of the Holy Week was generally peaceful.
Threat of unrest that gripped Camiguin, a favorite tourist destination which is strategically near both for Cagayan de Oro and Bohol in sea travel, has also somewhat dwindled.
“So far, there are no reports of any untoward incidents in the city and the neighboring places since the start of the observance of the Holy Week down to its last day,” said Cocpo spokesperson Mardy Hortillosa.
The region earlier beefed up its security measure and has conducted intensified monitoring of any wounded persons, confined or admitted, in any hospitals, clinics, and health centers for the possible arrival of wounded members of the terror group from Inabanga, Bohol.
Hortillosa said there were no major incidents reported by station commanders to its headquarters, even as the red alert status has not been lifted yet pending official order from the police regional office.
In nearby Opol town, however, a 4-year-old Jason Tolipol from sitio Malingin in said town drowned in Marvilla Beach Resort at about 11 a.m. on Sunday.
According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Operations and Warning Officer Vergil Lago, the rescuers were able to bring Tolipol to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro, but he did not survive.
The boy’s remains now lie in state at Somo Funeral Homes with Misamis Oriental Cares was quick in providing assistance to the victim’s family.
This, as thousands of Easter Sunday revelers were seen in Misamis Oriental’s different beaches.
In Magsaysay Beach Resort, 4,000 people reportedly came, while Moog Beach in Laguindingan has 2,000 visitors. Midway Beach in Initao town has 1,000 families checking in.
The Sagpulon Falls in Jasaan town has the most visitors with 10,000 individuals recorded on Easter Sunday alone.
