DAVAO CITY – The search for a missing 12-year-old boy ended in tragedy after rescuers recovered his body from the Davao River on Monday afternoon, July 20, two days after he disappeared while swimming in the swollen waterway in Barangay 76-A, Bucana, Davao City.
The victim was identified as Angelo Suam Cabudol, 12, a resident of Purok 52, SIR, Lot 12, Bucana, Davao City.
Authorities said the boy’s body was found at approximately 1:20 p.m. in SIR Phase 1, Purok 54, Castro Bangkaan, Barangay 76-A, several meters from where he was last seen before he went missing on July 18.
According to police and rescue authorities, Angelo had been swimming in the Bucana stretch of the Davao River with other children when he suddenly disappeared beneath the water and failed to resurface.
Earlier reports indicated that the child had been playing with companions along the river dike before he was allegedly pushed by one of his playmates, causing him to lose his balance and fall into the fast-rising river. The strong current reportedly swept him away almost immediately.
The incident was promptly reported to Police Station 15 – Ecoland, which coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard, Central 911 Davao, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and other emergency responders to launch an extensive search and rescue operation.
Rescuers worked tirelessly throughout the weekend, combing sections of the river in hopes of finding the missing child. However, operations had to be temporarily suspended on Saturday night due to dangerous conditions brought about by strong river currents, poor visibility, and darkness, which posed serious risks to rescue personnel.
Search efforts resumed the following day and continued until Monday afternoon when the victim’s body was finally located in Castro Bangkaan.
Following the recovery, Angelo’s remains were turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) of the Davao City Forensic Unit (DCFU) for processing and post-mortem examination.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the drowning, including the events leading up to the incident.
The tragic incident has renewed calls from authorities for parents and guardians to closely supervise children and discourage them from swimming in rivers, particularly during the rainy season when water levels rise rapidly and currents become extremely powerful and unpredictable.
Officials emphasized that even experienced swimmers can be overwhelmed by swift river currents, urging the public to heed safety advisories and avoid entering flooded or fast-flowing waterways to prevent similar tragedies.