Madlum River not on original itinerary of ill-fated BSU field trip – crisis panel

Crossing the Madlum River in San Miguel, Bulacan was not on the original itinerary of the field trip of more than 100 Tourism students of the Bulacan State University (BSU), a report by the university's crisis committee said.

According to a report aired on GMA News “24 Oras” Friday evening, the two-page report of the crisis committee states that crossing the Madlum River was not included in the set of activities for the trip, but the tour agency contracted by BSU changed the itinerary several hours before the students left for San Miguel.

In an interview with “24 Oras” Antonio Donceras, president of Madlum Guide Incorporated, a group of local tour guides, said an official of the tour agency conducted an inspection of Madlum River three days before the fieldtrip.



“Nandun siya nung Sabado, nakikipag-coordinate sa grupo namin. Pero nung actual na nagkaroon ng aksidente, wala. Hindi na siya kasama,” Donceras said.

On Tuesday, seven students of BSU were caught in a flash flood on the Madlum River and drowned. The body of the seventh fatality was found on Thursday.

The father of one of the victims has refused to accept financial assistance from BSU, and said he is determined to file a case against the university.

“Pagdating sa formal filing ng case, gusto ko mag-usap kami lahat ng pamilya (ng mga biktima). Kung talagang willing sila magsama-sama na kami sa pagfa-file,” Harold Marcelo, father of the late Helena Marie Marcelo, said.

The BSU has meanwhile created an independent fact-finding committee that will conduct a full investigation into the incident.

According to the “24 Oras” report, the findings of the crisis committee will be submitted to the fact-finding committee. — Elizabeth Marcelo/JDS, GMA News