By CESAR JOLITO III

A 19-year-old laborer was found dead in an irrigation canal at Barangay Orong in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City after reportedly jumping into the water while intoxicated during an early morning gathering with friends.

Kabankalan police said the drowning incident happened around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, in Barangay Orong’s Lower Balicaocao.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim and several companions had been drinking at a residence around 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.

At about 1:00 a.m., they allegedly decided to bathe in a nearby irrigation canal.

Witnesses told police that the victim, who was reportedly intoxicated, jumped into the canal and failed to resurface.

His companions were unable to locate him afterward.

At around 7:00 a.m., a resident discovered the victim’s body at the end portion of the irrigation canal.

A barangay health worker later declared the victim dead at the scene.

Authorities said the body was brought to a funeral home for postmortem examination as part of the ongoing investigation./CJ, WDJ