Companions of Lakawon drowning victim deny ‘drunk’ allegation

The companions of a man who drowned Saturday at the Lakawon Island Resort in Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City denied the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) report that their friend was drunk at the time of his drowning.

Based on the report released by the PCG-Northern Negros Occidental station, the victim, John Louis Espida of Barangay 14, Bacolod City, was found floating near a motor banca, by the resort’s lifeguards.

The lifeguards and the resort’s first responders attempted to revive Espida and transported him to a medical facility in Cadiz for treatment but he was later declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Based on the investigation carried out by the PCG, the attending physician ruled that the victim was drunk, an allegation that is being denied by the victim’s friends.

Jasper Geronimo, one of the guests and friends who also tried to rescue Espida, denied their friend was drunk.
Geronimo pointed out that they were only supposed to hold a drinking session after lunch.

After eating, Espida exited the cottage, and they initially believed that he was only going to take a stroll, but he failed to return.
Espida’s remains were later found floating and unresponsive near a motor banca.

The victim’s friends and family are also blaming the resort management over the incident.

PCG-Northern Negros station commander, Commander Joe Luviz Mercurio, meanwhile, stands pat on their previous report, pointing out that it was the physician who ruled that Espida was inebriated at the time of the incident.

However, Mercurio said they will investigate the allegations pushed by the victim’s friends and family that the resort’s lifeguards allegedly acted late in rescuing Espida.

The management of Lakawon Island Resort, meanwhile, has not yet issued any comment regarding the incident.* (DGB)