2 boys drown in river in Batangas City

What was meant to be a simple afternoon swim for two 11-year-old boys from Barangay Tinga Itaas, Batangas City turned into a tragedy as they would die later at the Sabang River.

Authorities said there was no rain at that time and the boys may have ventured into the deeper part of the river where it became difficult for them to swim back to safety.

“Sadyang sila pong dalawa ay kampanteng naliligo at medyo may malalim. 'Yan po ang nakikita natin. Ngayon, sila po ay kita naman po ang katawan ng bata, intact po ang kasuotan at walang ibang nga galos,” PLT. Sharen Ama, Chief of the Batangas City Police Station, said.

According to the mother of one of the boys, her child often went out with friends, but she got worried when they did not return home after dark.

“Naghahanap daw po [sila] ng mapapaliguan. Ngayon, ayaw po nilang pumayag na ang bata ayaw [o hindi] na isinama nila. Ang sabi ko ay ‘paano ninyo natukoy kung hindi ninyo isinama ang bata?’” the mother said.

While the parents are not convinced that their child drowned, the siblings of one of the victims are struggling to come to terms with the loss.

“Hindi ko rin po alam eh, pinagpe-pray ko po 'yan eh. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari talaga sa kapatid ko, wala naman po akong time na 'yun na nalunod are,” one sibling said.

The bodies of the boys were not subjected to autopsy.

Authorities are, as of this writing, conducting a follow-up investigation. —GMA Regional TV