A 15-year-old boy drowned in Mangaldan, Pangasinan when he fell into the river after one of his friends tickled him.

The boy, Christoefer de Guzman, was playing with three friends at the Old Mangaldan River. According to a witness, De Guzman was holding on to a metal bridge handle when one of his friends allegedly tickled him. His grip on the handle loosened eventually and he fell into the river.

“Nakakapit siya, kaya lang kiniliti, kaya ayun, nahulog na siya,” Lea Caballero, a witness, said.

His grandmother, Lucresia Lozada, mourns his death.

“Humihingi siya ng bente pesos sa akin tapos ‘yun na pala ang huling kita ko. Mahal na mahal ko ang [apo] ko,” she said.

“Palagi kong sinasabi sa kanya na umiwas na siya sa mga barkada niya kasi makulit ang apo ko, pero kahit ganun, mahal na mahal ko ang apo ko,” she added.

The rescue operation was challenging due to strong currents. It took over four hours to find Christoefer’s and pull his body out of the water.

Police have filed a case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against the 18-year-old boy who allegedly tickled De Guzman.