SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte, Nov. 3–Two school girls of Baay Elementary School in nearby Batac City drowned while swimming at Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) in Brgy. Bingao, this town yesterday.
Police identified the drowning victims as Angel Pascua, 10 and her cousin Renalyn Tapaoan, 12, and both residents of Brgy. Baay, Batac City.
Investigation showed that the victims, together with five other minors, went swimming for fun at the SWIP site.
While at the height of fun, the two victims probably swam further and accidentally drowned at the deep portion of the water.
Responding rescuers plucked the victims from the water and rushed them to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital in Batac City.
However, attending doctors at the emergency room declared the victims dead on arrival.
Bingao officials led by Barangay Chairman Angelous Dadiz Ulep said they had long posted notices around the SWIP that forewarned the public that swimming at the dam is dangerous, hence it is prohibited.(theo s. guiang)
