By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

Three bodies were recovered after being drowned in various parts of Negros Occidental following the heavy rains and flashfloods brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat which was enhanced by Super Typhoon “Egay.”

Authorities recovered the body of 32-year-old Victor Moreno Jr., a resident of Purok Punay in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mansilingan, along the river at Purok Sigay in the city’s Barangay Singcang-Airport at around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25.

Police Station 8 commander, Captain Melvin Mercado said, based on witness accounts, Moreno is an avid river angler and believed that he may have been swept by strong currents while fishing.

He succumbed to a head wound, authorities said.

In Hinigaran town, the local Coast Guard-Southern Negros Occidental substation recovered the remains of 48-year-old Arnold Billojan, a resident of the town’s Barangay Aranda, yesterday morning.

Substation commander, Lt. Junior Grade Carla Mayang said Billojan went missing shortly after attending a friend’s birthday party.

His remains were later found floating 50 meters off the coast of Barangay 2.

He was positively identified by his relatives.

It is believed that he may have accidentally fallen in the village’s river while inebriated.

Meanwhile, in Murcia town, residents of Purok Mary in Barangay Canlandog also found the remains of an individual in a river.

The fatality was later identified as 19-year-old Richard Espinosa, a resident of Purok Monarch also in the said village.

Murcia police chief, Major Marc Joeil Reclamado, said the remains were found at around 11:00 a.m.

Reclamado said they did not receive any prior reports of missing individuals on Tuesday.

However, it is believed that Espinosa may have accidentally slipped into the river while trying to lead his carabao to a safer spot.

An investigation is ongoing./DGB, WDJ