Bodies of 2 missing children retrieved from Taal Lake, search ongoing for 3 more

The bodies of two children who went missing after swimming in Taal Lake in Batangas were found in its waters on Tuesday.

Search and rescue operations meanwhile continued on Wednesday for three more children missing, according to a report by Mai Bermudez on GMA News' Unang Balita.

The fatalities were identified as Sherin Ashtrid Dela Rosa, 8, and Jamie Rose Ann Jacutan, 12.

Sherin's body was found 10 meters from the shoreline of Taal Lake in Barangay Looc in the municipality of Balete and around 15 feet underwater.

Jamie Rose Ann's body meanwhile was found after 10 minutes in the area.

The Philippine Coast Guard is conducting the search and rescue operations via surface search and diving.

Barangay Looc has earlier placed a sign at the mouth of the river flowing into Taal Lake saying swimming is prohibited due to past drowning incidents.

However, on Tuesday, the children, who were from Barangay Sto. Toribio in Lipa City, went to the area to swim.

Ruben Presas, grandfather of the children, said he brought the children to Taal Lake but told them not to go to the mouth of the river because it is prohibited. He also said he told them not to swim until they are with them.

Presas said he dropped off Sherin, Jamie Rose Ann and three boys aged 7, 8, and 10 in another area. He was broken hearted to find out they went swimming in the restricted area.

Meanwhile, Elizalde Presas, father of two of the children, said he did not know that his kids will be brought to Taal Lake with other relatives.

"Aba'y masakit po. Masakit talaga. Hindi ko nga rin alam na sila'y pupunta rine," he said.

(It hurts. It really hurts. I did not even know they would go here.)

The mayor has said the prohibited area will be padlocked to prevent the public from going to the area, barangay officials said. —KG, GMA News