The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) has concluded a three-day search and rescue (SAR) operation after recovering the remains of a 15-year-old drowning victim in the waters off Davao City on Tuesday morning, August 11, 2026.
The victim was recovered at approximately 6:30 a.m., around 300 meters from the Davao Fishport Complex, following an extensive search involving multiple Coast Guard units and partner agencies.
The operation was carried out by the Coast Guard Station Davao (CGS Davao), Special Operations Group Southeastern Mindanao (SOG-SEM), and Coast Guard Sub-Station Daliao (CGSS Daliao), which had been conducting search efforts since the victim was reported missing.
Upon locating the remains, personnel from CGSS Daliao, in coordination with MCS 3007 personnel aboard a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB), immediately recovered the victim from the water.
The remains were then transported to the Davao Fishport Complex, where authorities carried out the necessary procedures for identification, documentation, and coordination with the victim’s family.
The search and recovery effort was also supported by the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC), the Maritime Police, and other concerned government agencies and responders.
The victim’s parents later arrived at the recovery area and positively identified the remains, confirming that the recovered individual was their 15-year-old child who had been missing following the reported drowning incident.
Following the completion of identification and required documentation, the remains were formally turned over to the appropriate authorities for proper disposition and the next necessary procedures.
The recovery brought an end to the three-day SAR operation, with CGDSEM formally declaring the search mission concluded after the victim was located and safely recovered.
The incident once again underscores the risks faced by residents and other individuals engaging in activities in coastal and open-water areas, particularly when conditions become hazardous. Authorities continue to remind the public to exercise extreme caution around the sea and to immediately seek assistance from local disaster responders or maritime authorities whenever a water-related emergency occurs.