The body of Aleja Badal Pinagayao, the pregnant woman who went missing after reportedly jumping from the bridge connecting Datu Piang and Nabalawag, was recovered along a riverbank in Upper Taviran, Mother Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, on Wednesday morning, November 4, 2026.
Residents discovered the body along the riverbank earlier in the morning, prompting authorities to verify whether it was the same woman reported missing following the incident the previous night.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Nabalawag subsequently confirmed that the recovered body was that of Pinagayao, ending the search and rescue operation that had involved several government agencies and responding units.
According to the MDRRMO, the victim’s remains arrived at around 9:30 a.m. and were formally turned over to her family in Datu Piang for the necessary arrangements and final rites.
The recovery followed hours of coordinated search efforts led by the MDRRMOs of Nabalawag and Datu Piang, under the leadership of Fairoudzah E. Kiram and Suhara A. Sapalon, respectively. The Nabalawag Municipal Police Station and the Philippine Army also participated in the operation, alongside other responders and individuals who extended assistance.
Initial reports indicated that Pinagayao had reportedly jumped from the bridge linking the two municipalities before falling into the water. However, details surrounding the circumstances leading to the incident have not been fully established in the information released by authorities.
The recovery of her body brings the search operation to a close but leaves a family and community mourning the loss of a woman who was carrying a child.
The Local Government of Nabalawag expressed its condolences to the bereaved family, extending its sympathies and wishing them strength during this difficult period. It also thanked the government agencies, rescue groups, private individuals, and other members of the community who participated in the search, offered prayers, and provided support.
As the family prepares for the victim’s final rites, the incident serves as a deeply distressing reminder of the human cost of tragedies involving waterways. Authorities have yet to provide further details about the circumstances of the incident.