'Domeng' claims six in northern Philippine resort

Before leaving the Philippine area of responsibility, tropical storm "Domeng" claimed six more lives as six youths in an outing drowned in a beach resort in Morong town in Bataan province Monday afternoon, police said. PO3 Pablito Gunio Jr., duty officer of the operations division of the Bataan police, said Tuesday the six were not aware of rough waves brought about by "Domeng." "The victims were all from Manila, members of the Kapisanan ng Kabataan Tungo sa Kaunlaran. They were on an outing at the Morong Beach Resort when the incident happened at 3 p.m.," Gunio told dzBB radio. A report from GMA 7's 'Flash Report' said the victims were members of the 'Dating Daan' religious sect. Those who drowned were identified as Jun Hernandez, Basil Gamotin, Vandolph Mercado, Henry Bugcayan, Mark Arian Matias, and Patrick Isidro. Some of the victims were brought to the James Gordon Memorial Hospital where they eventually expired. Their remains were brought to the Funeraria de Leon in Morong. Gunio said police are still investigating if owners of the resort could be held liable for not warning the swimmers about the bad weather conditions. Before leaving Philippine territory, "Domeng" changed course and passed near Zambales province, causing strong waves and powerful rains and winds in central and northern Luzon. The storm earlier caused a boat to capsize in the Bicol region, of which two passengers have remained missing and feared dead. - GMANews.TV