9-year-old drowns at Cavite falls resort after sandbags give way

A nine-year old boy drowned, while two others were injured in a waterfalls resort in Indang, Cavite after piled sandbags along the body of water were destroyed by high currents.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on "24 Oras" on Monday, the victim identified as Gabriel Rubillos was last seen playing with other kids at St. Anthony Falls around 2 p.m. on Sunday.

After the incident happened, authorities recovered the body of Rubillos floating about a kilometer from the place where he was swept away.

“Nag-collapse po ang barricade na nilagay nilang sako…That’s the reason why nagkaroon po ng pagbaha,” Police Major Ernesto Caparas, Jr., acting police chief of Indang PNP, said.

(The barricades collapsed that's why there was flooding.)

“Baka po sa current ng tubig at dami ng tao bumigay ang barricade nila,” he added.

(Maybe because of the current of the water and the crowd, the barricades collapsed.)

St. Anthony Falls was managed by Barangay Tambo Malaki in Indang town.

Officials of the barangay said they are coordinating with the family of the victim and the others who were injured in the incident.

“Nangako naman po sila na kung obligasyon po na kailangan ng pamilya ay kanilang tutugunan,” Caparas, Jr. said.

(They promised they will assist the family.)

The local government of Indang ordered the closure of the falls. Authorities are continuing their investigation to find out if someone should be held liable for the incident.—Mel Matthew Doctor/LDF, GMA News