Man missing after swimming in Marikina River

A 22-year-old man went missing after swimming in the Marikina River on Thursday.

Jerome Racelis, a resident of Barangay Tumana, jumped into the river to swim at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, according to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on "24 Oras.'' 

“Humihingi pa nga ‘yun ng saklolo eh, eh wala na ring makasagip dahil sa lakas ng ulan, hangin at saka ‘yung tubig,” said Gloria Racelis, Jerome’s mother.

She stressed that her son wasn’t drunk and he knew how to swim.

Search and retrieval operations resumed on Friday morning.

“Nag-resume tayo kaninang umaga alas otso ng search and retrieval at inaasahan namin, base sa experience namin, na usually after 24 hours pa lumulutang yung mga nagiging biktima ng pagkalunod sa Marikina River,” said Marikina City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office chief Dave David.

“Panawagan ko sa kanila na mahanap nila yung anak ko na ibalik sa akin kahit siya ay wala nang buhay,” Gloria added.

The Marikina CDRRMO reminded the public that swimming in the Marikina River is strictly prohibited. — Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News