KABACAN, COTABATO — A Grade 5 pupil was declared dead on arrival at a hospital while three other minors remained missing after four of seven children reportedly drowned while swimming in the Pulangi River in Sitio Lumayong, Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, Cotabato, on Thursday afternoon, September 17.
The deceased victim was identified by the Kabacan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) as Sultan Blazo.
According to the Kabacan Municipal Police Station (MPS), the group of seven minors went to the river to swim at around 3 p.m. Four of them were reportedly swept into difficulty and drowned.
Three other 13-year-old boys managed to survive the incident, authorities said.
Responders from the Kabacan Incident Quick Response Team (KIQRT), Kabacan MDRRMO, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Rural Health Unit (RHU) immediately rushed to the area and launched search-and-rescue efforts, with assistance from responders from neighboring municipalities.
One of the victims was eventually recovered from the river and brought to a hospital in Kabacan. However, the attending physician declared the child dead on arrival.
The three other minors remained missing as of the latest report.
Search Suspended Due to Darkness
The search and retrieval operation was temporarily suspended at around 6 p.m. Thursday because of darkness and the hazardous conditions in the river.
Authorities planned to resume the extensive search operation early Friday morning, September 18, as responders continued efforts to locate the three missing children.
The Pulangi River’s conditions posed additional risks to rescuers, particularly as visibility deteriorated after nightfall. Responders therefore halted operations rather than expose search teams to further danger.
The families of the missing children appealed to residents living near the Pulangi River to immediately notify the police or the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) if they spot or recover any body or find information that could help locate the missing minors.
Mayor Urges Parents to Keep Children Away From the River
Kabacan Mayor Evangeline Pascua-Guzman expressed condolences to the families of the victims and urged parents to closely monitor their children, particularly when they are near rivers and other bodies of water.
The mayor strongly reminded parents not to allow their children to swim or bathe in the river, stressing the need for heightened vigilance to prevent similar tragedies.
The incident serves as another warning about the dangers faced by children swimming in rivers, where strong currents, sudden changes in water depth and limited visibility can make rescue efforts extremely difficult.
Authorities and rescue teams are expected to continue the search for the three missing minors on Friday morning, with updates to follow as the operation develops.