2 minor siblings drown in Ilocos; father to build coffins

Two children died of drowning in an irrigation site in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. 

Due to financial constraints, the victims’ father personally built coffins for his children, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon's Cris Zuñiga reported on “24 Oras” on  Friday. 

Victims Judilyn Pido, 7, and her five-year-old sister Princess drowned after they went for a swim in an irrigation site near their residence. 

Police said their mother was unaware they left the house as she tucked her six children in for an afternoon nap.

"lyong nanay may sabi na mayroong nalunod sa irigasyon. Doon na niya hinanap ang mga anak niya,” Police Lieutenant Reynaldo Reynon, deputy chief of Bantay Police Station, said. 

(The mother heard someone drowned. That’s how she found out it was her children.)

The victims’ father said one of their relatives saw the children near the area and told them to go home. 

“Nakita ng pinsan ko kaya pinaakyat niya sila. Pero nagtago daw ‘yung mga bata at bumalik sa irigasyon. Naglalaro daw sila pero baka balak nilang maligo dahil wala silang suot,” he said.

(My cousin saw them and told them to go home. But the children hid and later returned to the irrigation site. They were playing but it seems that they were planning to swim.)

“Masakit pero kailangang tanggapin. Hindi na naming pwedeng iwan ang mga bata, kailangang mabantayan,” he added.

(It was painful but we need to accept it. We cannot leave our children behind.)

Meanwhile, authorities issued reminders to parents. 

“Payo ko sa mga magulang na nakatira sa malapit sa mga irigasyon na bantayan ang mga maliliit na anak na naglalaro malapit sa irigasyon dahil hindi natin alam ang disgrasya,” Reynon said. 

(We advise families living near irrigation sites to guard their children.)—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News