By U.S. News Agency / Asian

Two high school students drowned and another was rescued while they were swimming in a beach resort at Barangay Songcolan in Batan, Aklan on Saturday morning.

Senior Supt. Cornelio Defensor, Aklan Provincial Police Office (APPO) acting director, identified the fatalities as
Blessa P. Idala and Kevin Bolneo, both first year students of the Altavas National High School in Altavas, Aklan.

A third victim, Jessabel L. Marcelino, a classmate of Idala and Bolneo, was resuscitated successfully by attending physicians at the Altavas District Hospital in adjoining Altavas town.

Defensor said the drowning incident involving the three teenage bathers was reported to a patrol team of the Batan police about an hour before noontime by the owner of the Beach Terrace Resort in Barangay Songcolan, Batan town.

The police team rushed to the beach area to rescue the victims. They immediately found and retrieved from the water Idala and Marcelino who were brought to the Altavas District Hospital. Unfortunately, Idala expired 10 minutes later.

Marcelino is still confined at the same hospital for further observation and medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the Batan police and civilian volunteer rescuers scoured the shoreline in Barangay Songcolan for the missing Bolneo, whose body was found two hours later after the incident was first reported.

Inspector Reynante Jomocan, chief of police of Batan, said the victims were part of the 60 freshmen students of Altavas National High School who were celebrating their victory as champions in the recent Altavas Ati-Atihan Festival.

He said their trip had the consent of their parents.

Witnesses said the victims were carried away by strong waves while they were swimming in the shoreline of Barangay Songcolan.