JAEN, Nueva Ecija — Rescue and retrieval teams, with the support of local fishermen, fished out the body of a 19-year-old farm help who fell on a deep quarry site in Pampanga River in Barangay Sto. Tomas South here Wednesday.
Marzan Mateo, head of the municipal disaster risk reduction management office, said it took them over 24 hours before the body of Elden Villacura, a native of Lanao del Norte who lives with relatives in Barangay Sto. Tomas North this town, was finally recovered about a kilometer downstream of the site where he reportedly fell.
Investigation showed the victim and his companion were washing empty sacks at the shallow portion of the river at around 8 a.m. Tuesday when he lost grip of a sack.
“Sinubukan po niyang kuhanin yung sako pero masyado po palang malalim yung napuntahan na katabi lang kanilang pinaglalabhan ng sako,” Mateo said.
As a result, Villacura lost his balance and drown, reports said. Mateo would not confirm if the sudden depth of the river was caused by the quarry operation but stressed the bare eye revealed the condition of the place.
“Nakita niyo naman na po,” he told the media when asked.
Police are still conducting follow investigation on the incident.
