Man found dead in Navotas River after 'swim race'

The Navotas City Bureau of Fire Protection on Friday morning recovered the body of a man in Navotas River who went missing Tuesday after an alleged swim race with a friend in Malabon City. 

In Vonne Aquino’s report on “Saksi,” Barangay Bangkulasi kagawad Michael Angelo Lita said that two children first discovered the floating body along the river. 

The victim was identified as Ernesto Oprenario Jr, 26, a resident of Barangay Longos in Malabon City. 

According to the victim’s father, his son drowned after he and his friend jumped into the nearby water. 

“Ang sabi lang niya, ‘Pa, punta ako ng labasan’. ‘Yun lang. Siguro nakainom,” said Ernesto Oprenario, Sr., the victim’s father. 

(He just told me, ‘Pa, I will just go to the entrance.’ That’s it. I think he was also drunk at that time.) 

The father said that he tried to jump into the water to look for his son, but he was stopped by their neighbors.

“Wala akong magawa. Masakit sa akin,” the father said. 

(I cannot do anything. It hurts me so much.) 

The victim's friend safely came out of the river. —Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News