Three friends drowned yesterday in what has been described as a “mysterious river” in Brgy. Inapoy, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, despite premonitions and warnings from their family members and friends hours before the incident.

Cyril Olay, 22, Exequil Arroz, 17, and Fred Am-is Jr., 18, all of Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod, drowned in the Pilyo-Pilyohan River in Brgy. Inapoy, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, at about 10 a.m. yesterday, the police said.

As the red-curtained white car of Funeraria Salvarino carrying the boys’ remains approached the St. Peter Memorial Homes in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City shortly before midnight yesterday, the silent crowd that had been waiting there began to sob and embrace each other, calling out their names.

The three were declared dead on arrival at the Tabugon District Hospital, after strong currents swept them down the river away from their friends, Supt. Calixto Mabugat, Kabankalan police chief, said.

Olay’s mother, and aunt had to be supported by their family members as they screamed and tried to touch his body, while Am-is’ father broke free from relatives trying to restrain him and hugged his only son.

The boys’ friends consoled each other by talking about their last moments together before the incident.

Initial police investigations showed that the three and 15 others went swimming in the Pilyo-Pilyohan River after participating in a dance contest and spending a night in Brgy. Tabugon of the city.

Mabugat said Arroz, Am-is, Olay, Jethro Gargacera, 16, Cesar Garcia, 17, and Winzel Montecino, 27, separated from their companions, and went to the deeper portion of the river.

Strong currents separated them from each other. Mabugat, however, said Gargacera, Garcia and Montecino managed to go to the shallow portion of the river, but Am-is, Olay and Arroz were swept away by the strong current. Their bodies were recovered later by rescuers, he added.

Am-is, who was set to graduate at the Handumanan National High School Friday, and Arroz, participated in the dance showdown while Olay had accompanied his sister, Stephanie, who was set to join a beauty pageant last night also in Brgy. Tabugon, their families said.

“We want to prepare for his graduation but how could we when he’s already gone?” Am-is father, Fred Sr., said, adding that his wife, Rhea, who is in Singapore, is coming home Thursday.

“My son is really kind. He doesn’t have vices. But maybe it’s really his fate,” Olay’s mother, Gloria said.

“He drives a trisikad but he often told me he would find another job,” Gloria said of Cyril who studied at the Bacolod City College and had wanted to become a teacher.

Exequil’s brother, Emmanuel, said he had dreamed that someone will pass away in their family but he did not expect it to be Exequil.

“I knew something would happen,” he said.

Their father, Wilfredo, just sobbed as he stared at the car where Exequil lay before his remains were transferred to the Alisbo Memorial Homes last night.

The Pilyo-Pilyohan River has been known as “mari-it” among the Inapoy barangay residents.

Before the death of the three boys, two security guards had also drowned in the river last year.*GPB/PP

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