Three minor sisters drowned when the motorcycle they were riding with their mother and stepfather fell into a flooded spillway at the Bubunawan River in Barangay Capihan, Libona, Bukidnon.

Authorities said the girls were six, eight, and 12 years old. Their mother and stepfather survived. It was their stepfather who was driving the motorcycle.

According to some witnesses, the motorcycle allegedly lost its brakes, causing it to plunge straight into the flooded spillway.

“Katong driver ilang ama-ama, iyang gi-segunda ang motor arun mohinay ang dagan, dayon, medyo kusog-kusog pa man daw, iya napud gi-primera wala siya kabantay nga sa iyang kataranta kay tulo ka bata ug isa ka inahan iyang karga lima sila tanan iyang giligwatan na, na-neutral man na niya unya dili na niya mabalik og primera… wala na napugngan sa driver naabot gyud sila didto sa baha,” a witness, Rey Almers Sevillano, said.

The mother and the driver managed to swim to safety, but the three children were carried away by the strong current.

The body of the 12-year-old girl was found first. Rescuers attempted to revive her before rushing her to a hospital but she did not make it there alive.

The bodies of her six-year-old and eight-year-old sisters were recovered the following day.

“Ang hunahuna sa driver ato daw nga didto na lang niya ipahunong sa tubigan kay dili man sila maunsa kaysa ilang ibangga sa mga koral. Wala sila nagdahum nga nagbaha naman diay,” Sevillano added.

Authorities reminded residents crossing the spillway to exercise extreme caution, especially during the rainy season.