Drowning mars scouts’ jamboree
LINGAYEN— What could have been a completely successful hosting of the 3rd Ilocos Region Scout Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines at the Camp Amado Espino Jr. in Eco-Tourism Zone in Barangay Estanza here last week was marred by the drowning of a boy scout from Villasis.
The fatality, Felix Caagay, a 12-year old, grade 7 pupil at Don Ramon Costales Memorial National High School and resident of Barangay Poblacion Zone 3 Villasis drowned in a beach here a day after the jamboree started.
Caagay and four other scouts reportedly went swimming without permission from their scout master Sunday morning in violation of the jamboree’s rules.
Avenix Arenas, spokesperson of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said Caagay and his four fellow boy scouts were initially stopped by elements of the Philippine Army that secured the perimeter from swimming but they found a way to avoid detection to swim at the beach somewhere in nearby barangay Sabangan where the drowning incident happened.
Since the drowning incident, swimming was completely banned for the duration of the jamboree and a curfew was imposed.
The participants belonged to scouting councils of Pangasinan – San Carlos City, Dagupan City, Eastern Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte – Laoag City, Ilocos Sur and La Union are joined in by delegations from Baguio City, Cagayan North-Tuguegarao City, Nueva Vizcaya and Makati City.
Imelda Samson, regional scout director of Ilocos Region, said in a local television interview that there was no negligence on the part of the host.
Mayor Dita Abrenica said in a separate interview the municipal government will extend necessary assistance to the boy’s bereaved family.
DROWNING AT AGNO RIVER
Meanwhile, another drowning incident involving a 15-year old high school coed drowned along Agno River in Alcala town Monday afternoon.
The incident happened when the fatality, Liwayway de Leon, third year high school student and resident of Barangay Canarvacanan, Alcala and her four friends were having a picnic by the river and they decided to take a dip.
De Leon, however, was eventually pulled down by the river’s strong current. (With reports from Eva Visperas and Johanne Margarette Macob)
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