Tourist drowns in Puerto Galera beach

MANILA, Philippines - A tourist drowned in a beach in Puerto Galera early Saturday, a television report said. According to GMA’s Flash Report, a 23-year-old male drowned at the White Beach in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, 1 a.m. on Saturday. The man’s body was immediately brought to the funeral parlor where his friends and family asked that his identity be hidden so that their grieving will be more private. The victim’s friends were quoted in the report as saying that the man was drunk and that they did try to stop him from swimming but were too late. They said no lifeguard was on duty and that the place was too dark. But GMA reporter JP Soriano quoted the local police and the Puerto Galera Resorts Association that there was actually a lifeguard on duty but that specific situation might have just not been monitored, prompting them to issue a warning. “Pagdating ng mga alas-dose, mag-refrain na silang mag-swimming muna, lalo na kung nakainom [When it’s already past midnight, they should refrain from swimming, especially if they are drunk]," said one local police in the report. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV