Two Czech tourists drowned while island-hopping in Coron, Palawan Monday, police reported yesterday.
Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, director of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 4 (Mimaropa or Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), identified the victims as Jakub Bazda, 25; and Martin Sekcik, 28, both single.
Mayor said the victims who were both staying at the Coron Paradise Hotel were part of a group of 13 Czechs visiting Palawan.
Investigation showed that the victims and their companions rented a boat for island-hopping. “Their last stop was at Kayangan Lake where they started swimming and snorkeling. They decided to go back to the hotel at 4:30 p.m.,” said Mayor.
The victims’ companions were preparing to leave for the hotel when they noticed that Bazda and Sefcik were missing. “They conducted a search of their own and after one hour after they failed to locate them, they sought the assistance of the Coast Guard,” said Mayor.
“The rescue team recovered the cadavers of the two more or less 21 meters below sea level at around 8:30 p.m.,” he said.
The bodies of the victims were taken to the Coron District Hospital. Police have notified the Czech Embassy in Manila of the incident. (Aaron B. Recuenco and Jerry J. Alcayde)