Case # MKJG 7325
Police were asked to consult on a case of drowned tourists in the rapids of Ulot river. The area is known for boat rides without outriggers to keep them balanced called Torpedo Boating. After the boat ride it is usual protocol to jump into the raging river at Deni’s point where guides will tell the tourists to grab the rope before the current takes you further down the river.
The so-called accident happened on July 8, 2018. The two tourists, Rowena Yi and Winston Yang, both Chinese nationals boarded the boats at 1 AM. Things seemed to be going normally until they reached Deni’s point wherein, after jumping into the river, they did not resurface. Fearing that the two individuals were carried away by the river current the guides formed a search party. They managed to find the body of Winston Yang on the bank of the river 1 kilometer from where he jumped into the river.
Efforts to revive him were futile as it seemed he had drowned some time prior. The body was retrieved and transferred to the nearest morgue for examination. Drowning was the obvious cause of death, but there seemed to be bruises on the ankles, as if something was physically dragging him down.
The body of Rowena Yi was never found, it was speculated that the strong river current carried the body to the sea. The area was searched thoroughly and a Chinese team of experts was flown in to help with the search, to no avail. The search ended a month after the incident occurred.
On September 3, 2018 another set of tourists disappeared. This time three thrill seekers from Manila, Loren Albay, Samuel Encarnacion and Iñigo Ferrer did not resurface after jumping off from Deni’s point. The search for their bodies lasted 2 months and it seemed that nothing would be recovered as was the case for Rowena Yi, but one of the tourists, Samuel Encarnacion had a GoPro camera attached to his helmet. The camera was retrieved by one of the divers during the search.
Examination of the footage was difficult. During a timestamp of 30:46 it can be seen that the three (Samuel Encarnacion was in the back so there was a full view of the other two tourists) were hanging steadily on the rope. It was then that Loren Albay seemingly disappeared from the frame. Analysis of the footage showed that she may have been pushed by a fast-moving object centered around her feet. Something caught her ankles and she was dragged away by the river.
The Ulot river is currently closed to tourists, but the demand for Torpedo Boating is still there. The local guides plan to reopen the attraction within the next few weeks unless there is sufficient reason to block their means of livelihood.
One of these guides, Ramon Agbon approached the police and divers during these incidents and gave the same statement both times:
“These people do not respect the river. There are those that use this place as hunting grounds, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. This is only the beginning.”
Officers questioned him more on his statement, but he would only repeat what he said. Some officers believe this is all accidental, that the guides just need to have stricter safety measures so this does not happen again. Others believe that this might be more sinister and there is a human hand in the incidents.
With no further evidence the recommendation of the officers is to tighten the safety measures in the Torpedo Boating and the subsequent jump into the river. The guides have agreed to this and will make every effort to improve the safety conditions of the area.
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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by the Ugkoy description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.
Ugkoy Illustration by Charles Breiner A Medina
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