Bodies of 3 missing boys found in Tullahan River

MANILA, Philippines — The bodies of three boys who were carried away by the strong current of Tullahan River in Valenzuela were recovered yesterday after almost two days of rescue operations. 

Rescuers retrieved the bodies of Kerby Tejadilla and Jillian Salud, both 10 years old, which were found floating near the Tullahan Bridge in Valenzuela at around 2 and 3 a.m. yesterday, rescue officer Christopher de Jesus said. 

The body of Kerby’s 13-year-old brother Rheniel was retrieved at around 4 p.m. in San Miguel Heights, near the site where the current carried them away.

Of the five children playing in the river on Sunday, two children aged 11 and nine years old were saved by backhoe operator Rowell Sanggalang.

Sanggalang also tried to save the three other children.

Jillian’s mother Nellie said she will miss hearing her son singing rap songs. 

The three boys drowned in the Tullahan River in Barangay Marulas when they were carried away by the strong current brought about by the sudden downpour Sunday, a day after Typhoon Ompong placed Metro Manila under signal number one.

Rescuers said the boys were playing basketball along the river and waded into the water to retrieve the ball when the river swelled. 

Meanwhile, the body of a man who jumped into a river in Marilao, Bulacan while under the influence of alcohol was found in Valenzuela before dawn on Monday, two days after he went missing.

Jeepney barker Pablo Belen, 45, was found floating near the river bank by a security guard in Wawang Pulo, Valenzuela.

Belen was apparently drunk when he went for a swim in the river in Marilao. His sister identified his body based on his watch and jersey shorts.