3 boys swept away by Tullahan River still missing

Rescuers have shifted to search and retrieval operations for three boys who were reportedly swept away by the Tullahan River in Valenzuela City around 4 p.m. Sunday.

Brothers Kerby and Rheniel Tejadilla, ages 10 and 13, and their friend Jillian Salud, 10, reportedly fell into the river near Antonette Town Homes, Barangay Pasong Balete.

The children's families believe they climbed the wall to go to the river to play, but slipped and went into the water.

Rescue officer Christopher De Jesus also said that he received information that the boys were trying to retrieve their ball when the water rose and swept them away.

De Jesus added that the Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Philippine Coast Guard are having difficulty in their search, due in part to the thick mud in the river.

"Kagabi is mas malakas ang agos natin kaysa sa ngayon," says De Jesus. "Nag-e-extend kami ng search and retrieval hanggang sa Navotas."

De Jesus also said that there is little chance of the boys' survival, considering the number of hours that have passed, but that they will not stop looking for them.

According to Kerby and Rheniel's mother, Annaliza, her eldest son tried to rescue the boys but the river was too deep. "Iyong panganay ko po kasi nandoon din po naglalaro. Nakita pa raw po niya 'yung kapatid niyang isa, 'yung Kerby na kakaway kaway pa. Pero, sinubukan daw niyang iligtas, hindi niya po kaya 'yung kuwan ng tubig eh saka maputik po doon. Kaya umuwi na lang po sa tatay niya. Sinabi niya po na ganoon ang nangyari," she said.

Another child, who had been holding on to a banana tree, had been rescued.

The victims' families have been waiting since yesterday in a makeshift command post along Tullahan bridge for any news.

"Sana makita sila," said a crying Annaliza. "Patay man o buhay, sana makita pa rin sila. Gusto kong makita 'yung mga anak ko, mahanap sila. Kaya nakikiusap ako sa rescue, mga nag-rerescue na sana hindi sila tumigil hanggat 'di nila makita 'yung mga bata."

Lucia Gingo, Jillian's grandmother, said, "Hindi baleng tanggapin na namin kung namatay sila basta makita lang namin na malagay sa kalagayan 'yung apo ko paglibing. Kasi 'pag di namin makita parang 'di namin, hindi ko kayang tanggapin na namatay na hindi namin nakikita e." — BM, GMA News