Girl, 7, drowns in kiddie pool

CEBU, Philippines —  A seven-year-old girl from Mandaue City drowned in a kiddie pool at a resort in Dalaguete town in southern Cebu early morning Sunday.

Dalaguete police received the report at around 11 a.m., an hour after the incident. The family was reportedly celebrating a birthday on Saturday and stayed in the resort overnight. There were 13 of them eight adults and five minors.

Police Corporal Gem Vincent Pacaldo, investigator on case, said the family rented a room in the resort adjacent to the kiddie pool.

There were three kiddie pools inside the resort with approximately three feet in depth.

"Mao to pag buntag, ang mga bata makig pangaligo na, nya nipugong ang mga ginikanan niingon unya nalang after ta makapamahaw, mangaon usa ta," said Pacaldo.

However, while the parents were having their breakfast in their room, the victim along with her two older siblings went out to go into the pool.

Since the parents could see the pool from their room and since the child was accompanied by her siblings, they allowed them.

"So mao to, kompyansa ra kaayo ang ginikanan, moments after ato, nagkaguliyang na sa gawas, naa nay nangayog tabang, mao tong gidali-dali na og adto sa ginikanan," said Pacaldo.

The resort's lifeguard also went to rescue along with the other concerned citizens. The child was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

"Ilang gitabang kay ang bata naunlod naman gyud didto sa pool gyud, ilawom, nagdala ni sya og salbabida pagkaligo niya nagdala ni syag salbabida," he said.

"Nya kato iyang older brother ug sister, wala man nikuyog og kaligo didto sa kiddie pool, tua man sa slide, so siya ra didto kuyog ang uban nga mga bata pud nga nangaligo," he added.

According to investigation, the child was still breathing when she was rescued. There were supposed to be two lifeguards on duty during that time, however, the other one had come in late.

The lifeguard present was accordingly roving around the resort.

In line with this, Dalaguete police encouraged the pool owners to make development on their resort since there were a total of five pools in the area.

"Lesson learned ba kay imagine duha ra ka lifeguard ang duty nya ang volume sa tawo, daghan, di kaya bantayan sa duha, hinuon naa say responsibility ang mga adult na mag oversee sa mga bata kay mga bata man," said the investigator.

The police also reminded the resort management to hire more lifeguards since the visitors have trusted the preparedness of the management in terms of safety.

Police are also further investigating to find out if the resort's management has lapses on their behalf. However, they will be awaiting the family's decision should they pursue this.

The family, however, told the investigator that they are no longer interested in an autopsy.

"Ako silang gitagaan time na muhunahuna kay ilang gipangayo ila usa ipahimutang ang pagtaliwan nga myembro sa pamilya, mo-contact lang mi sa ila kung unsa ilang desisyon," he said.

The resort's management has also assured to extend help to the family.

There were rough estimate of at least 100 visitors of the resort since the area is also wide. — GMR (FREEMAN)