A 15-year-old boy who was reported missing after a drowning incident off the waters of Sitio Masepla in Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City, was finally recovered on Thursday afternoon following an intensive two-day search and rescue operation conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard and local responders.
In a report released by the Philippine Coast Guard, Coast Guard Station Zamboanga, through Coast Guard Sub-Station Arena Blanco and in coordination with the Special Operations Unit–Zamboanga (SOU-ZAMBO), launched Search and Rescue (SAR) operations on May 21, 2026, after receiving information about the drowning incident involving the minor.
Immediately after the report was received, Coast Guard Sub-Station Arena Blanco deployed its SAR personnel to the area and conducted continuous surface and underwater search operations in the vicinity waters of Sitio Masepla, Barangay Mampang.
The operation was carried out in close coordination with barangay officials, local fisherfolk, community volunteers, and local divers who joined efforts to locate the missing teenager.
On May 22, combined SAR operations resumed and expanded along the coastal waters of Barangay Arena Blanco, Barangay Pangapuyan, Barangay Tigbalon, Sitio Masepla, and Barangay Mampang as rescuers intensified their search efforts.
At around 3:30 p.m., the body of the missing victim was successfully recovered from the seabed within the reported area through the collaborative efforts of the Coast Guard SAR Team and local diver Jonathan Ortega.
Authorities said the victim’s remains were immediately and respectfully turned over to the bereaved family to allow the conduct of proper Muslim burial rites in accordance with Islamic traditions.
The Coast Guard extended its gratitude to all participating stakeholders, volunteers, and residents who assisted in the operation, while also expressing its deepest sympathies to the grieving family of the victim.
The incident once again highlighted the importance of water safety awareness, especially among minors, as authorities continue to remind the public to exercise caution when swimming or engaging in activities near coastal areas.