The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) yesterday affirmed there were no casualties in the province as a result of Tropical Depression Agaton, with PDRRMO head Zeaphard Caelian specifying the motorcycle driver who was killed after accidentally falling into the Himogaan River and drowning was not storm-related.

He characterized the incident in Sagay City as “mere negligence.”

“It is just a presumption because there [were] no witnesses that came forward to the local DRRMO office [in Sagay City],” Caelian added.

Earlier, the body of the victim, identified as Ronnie Soberano, was recovered by rescuers at Sitio Pinag-iwatan, Barangay Tadlong in the said city.

Investigations by Sagay City police revealed Soberano was washing his feet on the concrete overflow, when he fell into the river and drowned./DGB, WDJ