Authorities are keeping a close eye on Taal Lake after a 14-year-old boy drowned in a part of the lake in Barangay Halang, Lipa City. 

The victim was with his four friends when two of them slipped from a rock and fell into the water.

According to the police, the two could not swim well and ended up in a deep portion of the lake. 

“Unang-una, ang dahilan niyan is yung mga bata, hindi pa sila ganoon ka sanay lumangoy; and pangalawa, yung lake natin which is may part talaga doon na biglang lalalim, kaya sila nalunod,” PCPT. Ricardo Cuevas, Chief Investigator of the Lipa City Police Station, said.

A resident of the area, Lito Atilano, sent his children to help rescue the kids but only one was saved. The 14-year-old boy was reportedly swept further into the deeper part of the lake. 

“Pinatakbo ko kaagad yung dalawa kong anak para i-rescue, yung nalulunod. Ang problema lang, nung dumating na ang nga anak ko, nasa ilalim na ang mga nalulunod, kaya hinanap niya. Hinanap ng hinanap hanggang sa matagpuan yung isa. Itong isa naman ay talagang bago makita, mga 20 minuto siguro bago nakita siya [at] nagtagpuan sa ilalim,” Atilano said.

The boy who survived was brought to the hospital immediately after the incident. The remains of the boy who drowned were taken home to Cuenca, Batangas. 

According to Barangay Halang officials, the incident was the first in 2024.

They have decided to monitor the area closely to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

“Lilimitan po natin ang pagpunta po rito dahil nga po may pangyayaring garne, ayaw na po [nating] maulit pa [ito]. Kung maaari ay [maga-announce kami sa] megaphone, para hangga’t maaari hindi na sila pupunta roon; at kung hindi sila marunong maglangoy ay hindi sila maaaring pumunta roon,” David Rocafort, a Committee on Peace and Order of Barangay Halang, said.