Student drowns in Pulangi River in Bukidnon

MARAMAG, Bukidnon — A 16-year-old secondary student of the Bukidnon National School of Home Industries drowned in the Pulangi River in Purok Buayan, Barangay San Jose, Quezon, Bukidnon on Friday afternoon, August 21.

According to Arnel Sagandilan, team leader of the Maramag Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) who responded to the incident, the location features difficult terrain and a narrow path situated about eight kilometers away from the national highway.

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Based on the investigation, 15 secondary students rode their motorcycles to the area to swim after asking permission under the pretext of attending a dance practice.

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Sagandilan stated that the students originally swam at the Milosup Spring, which is adjacent to the Pulangi River in Purok Buayan, Barangay San Jose.

However, the situation turned tragic when a female classmate nearly drowned, prompting the students to rescue her. In the process, the 16-year-old male student submerged and was pulled under the river current.

A local fisherman managed to retrieve the victim’s body from the water.

Due to the challenging terrain, an off-road 4×4 vehicle that happened to enter the area quickly rushed the victim toward the national highway, where the boy was transferred to an MDRRMO rescue vehicle.

He was rushed for medical attention but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag town. /jpv