A 9-year-old boy drowned while swimming at sea in Barangay Bobon in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.
According to police, the boy went to the beach with his father. While the child swam, the father kept watch while also using his cellphone.
After about 30 minutes, the father could no longer see his son and assumed he had gone home, which was around one kilometer away.
When the boy was not at home, the father returned to the beach and asked for help from barangay officials and the Philippine Coast Guard to search for his child.
Rescuers later found the boy's body on the seabed, about 10 meters from shore. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The victim’s family has not released a statement.
