PANTUKAN, Davao de Oro — Search and rescue operations were continuing Saturday evening, October 31, for a 16-year-old teenager who went missing after a drowning incident involving three minors at a private resort in Barangay Kingking, Pantukan, Davao de Oro.
The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM), through the Coast Guard Station Davao de Oro and Coast Guard Sub-Station Tagdangua, immediately launched search and rescue operations after receiving reports of the incident.
According to the Coast Guard, the three teenagers had been swimming at the resort when they suddenly became separated in the water. Two siblings, aged 15 and 12, were successfully rescued.
Their 16-year-old companion, however, reportedly could not swim and submerged before failing to resurface.
The incident occurred during the Undas holiday period, when many families travel and take advantage of the extended break to visit beaches, resorts and other recreational destinations.
Upon receiving information from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Pantukan, personnel from Coast Guard Sub-Station Tagdangua were immediately deployed to the area to conduct an initial investigation and begin search operations.
The search was later reinforced by personnel from Coast Guard Station Davao de Oro and the MDRRMO Pantukan, along with a volunteer diver from Barangay Tibagon.
As of 6:27 p.m. on October 31, search and rescue personnel were still conducting operations to locate the missing teenager.
Authorities have not released further information on the circumstances that led to the teenagers becoming separated while swimming. The incident nevertheless underscored the risks associated with recreational activities in bodies of water, particularly during holidays when resorts and beaches experience an increase in visitors.
The Coast Guard urged the public to exercise heightened vigilance and prioritize water safety, especially families and groups traveling with children and teenagers during the Undas break.
Among the safety reminders issued were ensuring proper supervision of minors, avoiding deep or unfamiliar waters, and choosing designated swimming areas with adequate safety measures and trained personnel.
As families continue to spend the Undas holiday together, the Coast Guard stressed that recreation should never come at the expense of safety.
“A moment of caution can save a life,” the agency said.