6 Students Caught Swimming in Irawan River During School Hours
Six students were taken into custody after they were caught swimming in the Irawan River in Puerto Princesa City during school hours.
On Wednesday morning (July 8, 2026), the barangay officials received reports about several students swimming in the river while still wearing their school uniforms. Concerned residents alerted local authorities, prompting barangay tanods to immediately respond to the area.
According to barangay officials, swimming in that part of the river is prohibited, especially during school hours. Upon arriving at the scene, the tanods found a group of young people enjoying the water instead of attending classes.
During an interview with local media, Barangay VAWC Desk Officer Marian Morales said the students tried to explain their presence at the river. Some reportedly claimed that they did not have classes that day, while others said they decided to go swimming because it was their classmate’s birthday.
Despite their explanations, the authorities still brought the group into custody for proper documentation and verification. Reports revealed that six youths were involved in the incident, including one female and five males.
Several of them were identified as high school students, while two were no longer attending school.
Barangay officials later coordinated with the concerned communities and arranged for the youths to be returned to their respective barangays. Authorities also requested that the names of the schools and barangays where the individuals came from not be disclosed.
The incident has raised concerns among local officials, especially since a similar case was reported in June. Several students were also found swimming in the same river during class hours.
Barangay leaders are once again reminding parents, guardians, and students about the importance of attending classes and following community rules. They also encouraged families to monitor the activities of young people to help ensure their safety and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
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