Two Korean nationals was declared dead on arrival when brought to the Bantayan Distric Hospital yesterday morning April 19, 2011. The Korean tourists victims were identified as Myung Kyujang, 27, and his female companion Hye Jung Jang, 31.
According to the police report from Police Insp. Jaime Tolentino, chief of the Sta. Fe police the Korean tourist were drowned while swimming off the coast of Bantayan particularly in Hilantagaan islets.
At around 8:00 AM the Koreans asked pump boat operator Uriel Mahipos to grill the fish they had brought with them. The operator agreed and grilled the fish approximately 60 meters from the docked pumpboat.
The Koreans took off their life jackets considering that it was low tide during that time but after the operator finished grilling the fish he noticed that the Koreans were not there in the pumpboat so he tried to searched for the tourist but he failed.
With the help of the local residents searched was made and finally the bodies of the two Koreans were found floating in the waters and brought it to the Bantayan Distric Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Bantayan island was one of the favorite destinations for tourists especially during the Lenten Season, having considered as the Lenten capital of the Visayas and Mindanao Region. The white sandy beaches of Bantayan island was one of the reason why people flocked to this island paradise beside from the fiesta like celebration of Holy Week.
