Police identified the victim as Rogelio Ramos, 56, lifeguard of Venecia Hotel in SBMA and resident of No. 83-A Otero Avenue, Barangay Mabayuan, Olonngapo City.
The victim was one of 19 trainees who joined the one-mile swim as part of their final examination in the five-day Basic Water Safety Training Course conducted by the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Olongapo Chapter.
Report said the swimmers started to swim at about 4:45 a.m. to the shoreline of Driftwood Beach Resort.
At about 6:30 a.m., after the end of the swim, head swimming instructor, Carlo Angeles, 43, resident of No. 21-E Sto. Rosario St., Valenzuela City, conducted head count and found that one of the trainees was missing.
A search was conducted by PNRC and different rescuers along Driftwood Beach but failed to recover the victim.