4 drown in Calabarzon on Good Friday

LUCENA CITY—At least four persons drowned in separate incidents on Good Friday in Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces, police said.

In a report on Saturday, the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regional police said one of the victims, Ruffa Mae Quinto (not the actress), died while being taken to a hospital after she was found floating in a swimming pool at Barangay Bilogo in Taysan, Batangas at 1:30 p.m.In Quezon, police said Francis Pasamba jumped off a pier at Barangay Caridad Ibaba in Atimonan town around 3 p.m. His body surfaced from the 10-meter deep water more than two hours later.

Police said Pasamba was apparently drunk.

In Laguna, Rodemar Magtubo, after a drinking spree along the banks of a river at Barangay Alipit in Sta. Cruz town, went to the river for a swim at 5 p.m. A few minutes later, his body was seen floating in another part of the river.

In Rizal, Simon Peter Escober was swimming in Wawa River at Barangay San Rafael in Rodriguez town at 2:30 p.m. when he strayed into a deeper part and drowned. He died while being taken to a local hospital.

With the expected influx of visitors on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, the municipal government of coastal Infanta in Quezon declared curfew hours for swimmers in public waters.

Mayor Filipina Grace America, in an executive order, banned that swimming in public beaches, rivers and waterfalls from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. the next day to ensure public safety. The order was implemented on March 27 and would be effective until Easter Sunday. —DELFIN T. MALLARI JR. INQ