Filipinos honored for rescuing drowning man

For five Filipino workers, what they did one weekend afternoon in Marine Beach in Kagman was nothing more than simply saving another man from drowning.

Little did Rogelio Deducin, Manolito Sityar, Ariel Narvaez, Celerino Calayag and Leo Abadan, all employees of Spectrum Electric Inc., knew that their heroic act would give them recognition from both Philippine and CNMI governments.

The Filipinos went hand in hand in saving the life of 24-year-old Chamorro man Jose Rios Camacho Jr., who was swimming in a Kagman beach when swept by strong currents towards the reef.

“We were in Kagman celebrating the birthday of one of our friends when we heard someone screaming for help,” said the Filipino workers after receiving a certification of recognition each from Philippine Consul Julia Heidemann Friday.

“At first we thought it was just a joke meant to interrupt the celebration. But when we saw the victim struggling in the water outside the reef, we wasted no time to rush toward him for help,” they said.

It was not an easy task, however. Mr. Deducin jumped off the water to rescue Mr. Camacho but realized he could not do it alone due to the strong water currents and that the victim was much bigger than he is.

The rescuers then grabbed a rope as one of them dove to the water to help Mr. Deducin keep the victim floating. Tying the victim with the rope, the three other Filipinos on the reefline pulled the victim back to the shore.

Teams from the Department of Public Safety and the Boating Safety arrived soon after Mr. Camacho had been saved by the five Filipinos, who were reportedly reprimanded by police officers for exerting the rescue efforts themselves.

Reports said the DPS dispatched police officers in five patrol vehicles, two firetrucks and an ambulance to the Marine Beach in Kagman after receiving a 911 call from the victim’s sister.

Maria Camacho, the victim’s mother, said she could not find enough words to thank the Filipino workers who saved her son from drowning. “I am very happy that there are people like them who would risk their lives to save that of another man.”

Mrs. Camacho said works are now underway for the House of Representatives to bestow the Filipino workers, one of them her son-in-law, recognition through the adoption of a resolution.