A 44-year-old laborer was found dead inside a box culvert in Purok Bodega, Barangay San Jose, Koronadal City on Saturday morning, May 16, in what authorities suspect to be a drowning incident amid flooding in the area.
The victim was identified by relatives as Mark Daing Severino, a resident of the same barangay.
According to initial police investigation, Severino was last seen alive on the evening of May 15 while attempting to remove garbage and pieces of wood clogging a floodwater drainage system. Authorities believe he accidentally fell into the culvert and drowned after being swept away by strong floodwaters.
Residents were shocked after discovering the victim’s body submerged inside the culvert at around 6:00 a.m. on Saturday. They immediately alerted local authorities, prompting police and emergency responders to rush to the scene and conduct an investigation and retrieval operation.
Witnesses said the drainage system in the area frequently becomes clogged during heavy rains, causing floodwaters to rise in nearby communities. Investigators are looking into the possibility that Severino was trying to clear the blockage to help ease the flooding when the accident occurred.
The victim’s remains were later transferred to a funeral parlor for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Authorities continue to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to establish the full circumstances surrounding Severino’s death.
Meanwhile, local officials reminded the public to exercise extreme caution when clearing drainage systems and flood channels during heavy rains and flooding to avoid similar tragedies.