April 7, 2026 | Cagayan de Oro City
A seven-year-old boy who was reported missing on April 6 was found dead hours later after he allegedly drowned in a river in Barangay Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City.
The victim, identified only as “Ethan,” was last seen in the Riverside area of Barangay Balulang on the afternoon of April 6. According to his family, the child had gone missing under unclear circumstances, prompting them to immediately seek assistance from authorities.
The family reported the incident to Philippine National Police Station 2 in Cogon, requesting a blotter entry and access to CCTV footage that could help trace the boy’s last movements. A security guard in the Cogon area reportedly saw a child matching Ethan’s description wandering around at around the same time he was reported missing.
Police investigators have since been working to secure CCTV recordings from nearby establishments to piece together the timeline leading up to the incident.
Search and retrieval efforts intensified late into the evening. At around 11:30 p.m., the lifeless body of the child was discovered floating beneath Ysalina Bridge, near City Hall. The discovery was made by a passing motorist and his wife, who noticed the body in the water.
Without hesitation, the man reportedly jumped from the bridge in an attempt to rescue the child. He brought the boy to safety and attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but the child showed no signs of life.
Responders from the Cagayan de Oro City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) arrived shortly after and confirmed that the body was that of the missing child. The agency also declared the victim dead upon assessment.
Authorities believe the child may have drowned in the river earlier that day, although a full investigation is still ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The tragic death has sparked concern among residents, particularly regarding child safety near rivers and the need for closer supervision.
Police continue to coordinate with the victim’s family and are urging anyone with additional information or relevant footage to come forward as part of the ongoing investigation.