MANILA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Three children, aged 6 and 9, have drowned in a river in Kalinga province in the northern Philippines, the police said Monday.
The police said the victims, a 6-year-old boy and two 9-year-old girls, attended a family gathering in Pinukpuk town on Sunday when they decided to swim in the Chico River without their parent's knowledge.
A 16-year-old girl accompanying the children told the police that a strong current caught the victims, making it impossible for her to save them.
The relatives took the children to a local hospital, where they were declared dead.
Due to the strong current, the public is advised to avoid swimming in the Chico River this rainy season. ■
