3 kids drown in Pasig River

MANILA, Philippines — Three fourth graders drowned while swimming in the Pasig River Thursday.

Sisters Mariabelle and Mariebell Juarez, 10 and 12 respectively, and Maria Rose dela Cruz, 10, went swimming in the river after classes at the San Joaquin Elementary school, said Senior Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr., Pasig police chief.

Dela Cruz’s body was recovered under the San Joaquin Bridge at around 3:30 a.m while Mariabell’s body was fished out from under the MACDA Bridge at around 6:30 a.m.

Mariebell remains missing, police said.

Initial investigation showed that Ajie dela Cruz first reported her sister and the two Juarez sisters as missing in Barangay San Joaquin Thursday night.

Ajie said their mother, Maria Rosa, last saw the victims alive doing their homework at their residence in Barangay San Joaquin at about 3 p.m. Thursday.

The mother went out for an errand but when she returned minutes later, the three children were nowhere to be found.

Maria Rosa said she warned the three children not to loiter outside the house, telling them they could be taken by armed men who kidnap children and sell their organs.

A witness, Hershey Manalo, said she saw the three children playing near the river. She said she tried to stop them but they ignored her.

The slippers of the three children were found at the riverbank.

Arnel Iglesias, a village watchman of Barangay San Joaquin, said the 25-meter-deep Pasig River has claimed the lives of several residents.

Barangay officials erected a fence near the riverbank but residents, who would go fishing in the area, destroyed it, Iglesias said.