The three students were identified as Kyla Mae D. Fernandez, Grade 9 student and a native of Ansipsip, Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya; Dickzy Mae M. Catos, Grade 7 student and also a native of Ansipsip, Kayapa; and Angel Hernandez, Grade 9 student and a native of Quirino province.
The three students reportedly went down to the river with a male student to find their companions who went down earlier to the river to gather wood. The three girls went swimming in the river leaving their male companion at the river bank. One of the girls started drowning. The other two students went to her rescue but they also got caught up in the river current. All three students drowned.
The students were in Dalupirip awaiting the opening of classes at their school on Monday. In light of the incident, students are being advised to stay away from the river especially during this time with the rainy season now in full swing. It can be recalled that several weeks ago, another student drowned when their group went swimming at a waterfall located in Tuba, Benguet.
