The corpse of 19-year-old Fhilton John Batistis was recovered in Manila Bay on Tuesday, July 22, a day after he was reported missing.
In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN, Fhilton’s parents, Ma. Theresa and Edwin, said his friends asked him to come out on Monday morning to play basketball even though it was raining in Calvary Hills, Barangay Damayang Lagi, Quezon City, and the court was already flooded.
A friend of Fhilton, who asked not to be identified, said they later on thought of swimming in the nearby creek; he said the current and rain were not strong that time.
He didn’t know Fhilton was not a good swimmer, but the victim held onto an empty water container which he used as a floater, he added.
“Dito pa lang sinabihan ko na siya na kung hindi mo na kaya, bumitaw ka na. Dun ka na sa gilid,” the friend said. “Sumunod pa rin siya.”
The friend said the current suddenly became strong.
“Pagdating doon sa likod ng barangay ng Salapan doon siya nakabitaw ng galon. Hindi na rin ako nakahabol sa kanya,” he recounted.
The friend called on other residents to rescue Fhilton but could no longer find him.
Fhilton’s parents asked from village officials who coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard, but even the PCG also failed to find him.
On Tuesday, a friend of Fhilton’s mother, Theresa, saw a post on Facebook about a recovered body in Navotas City and informed her about it.
Theresa and Edwin called the Navotas Police who asked them for possible marks that could identify their son.
They told them of two tattoos that Fhilton had which were found on the corpse.
“Nakita daw po yung anak ko ng barko. Ngayon sabi ng barko tinawag yung mga mangingisda na may tao, ngayon kinuha ng mangingisda dinala sa Navotas, sa tabing dagat na. Pagdating naman doon sa tabing dagat, yung may-ari ng bangka nag-post sa FB na kung sino ang nakakakilala sa taong ito paki-share na lang,” Edwin said.
According to Ailene Ledesma, the village chief of Brgy. Damayang Lagi, “Ang sabi sa’min is dumire-diretso daw sa San Juan river, dumating daw sa Pasig, nakarating ng Manila Bay hanggang sa nakarating sa Navotas.”
Theresa mourned for her son whom she described as loving, smart, and helpful.
The tragedy is doubly painful as she recalled that they waited 10 years before they were blessed with their eldest—Fhilton.
“Pupunta kami ngayon doon sa punerarya. Huwag na raw akong sumama. Pero hindi, alam ko, tatagan ko na lang din loob ko, kasi last ko na lang na sulyap sa kaniya yun. Ten years siya ibinigay sa akin. Ten years kami nagsama bago siya binigay sa akin. Tapos 19 years old lang siya. Binawi na siya sa amin pero kailangan kong tanggapin nang maluwang sa puso ko kasi alam ko na may purpose siya kahit masakit,” Theresa said.
She also stated that living beside the creek is also prohibited but they could not force the residents to relocate even if they are informal settlers.
Ledesma said they will once again remind their constituents, given that a life has already been lost, and more rains are expected.
