5 kids drown in Taal Lake

BATANGAS, Philippines — Five children reported missing while swimming in Taal Lake on Tuesday were found dead.

Police identified the fatalities as Jaime Rose Ann Jacutan, 13; Kiel Zackary Pasaron, 10; Sherin Ashtrid dela Rosa, 8; Kurtney Prian Presas, 8, and Rodney Mark dela Rosa, 7, all residents of Sitio Sto. Toribio, Barangay Marauoy in Lipa, Batangas.

Philippine Coast Guard personnel recovered the bodies of Jacutan and Dela Rosa at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The bodies of the three other victims were recovered at around 10 a.m. yesterday.

The Batangas police said the victims went swimming in the lake in the vicinity of Barangay Sala in Balete town.

Town police chief Capt. Ricky Gonzales said swimming in the area is strictly prohibited.

“May malaki na pong signage na nakalagay diyan na talagang nagbabawal mag-swimming. Gumagawa naman kami ng intervention sa barangay at every time na magro-roving kami ay sinisita namin ang mga mag-si-swimming,” he said.

In Pangasinan, Jhaymar Guardiana, 5, drowned in Parongking River in Barangay San Miguel in Calasiao on Tuesday.

The boy was last seen playing by the riverbank with several other children.

His body was recovered at around nightime.