PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — A 47-year-old fisherman was found dead in the waters off Barangay White Beach, Pagadian City, after he reportedly went missing while working at a fish cage on September 12, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The body of Dennis Aponda Salomon, a resident of Purok Lupoy, Barangay White Beach, was recovered in the vicinity waters of the barangay on September 13, 2026, prompting a coordinated response from Coast Guard personnel.
The Coast Guard Station Zamboanga del Sur, through the Coast Guard Sub-Station Pagadian (CGSS Pagadian) and Special Operations Group-Zamboanga del Sur (SOG-ZDS), responded after receiving a report of a floating body in the area.
Coast Guard personnel aboard AB-270 immediately proceeded to the reported location to verify the sighting and conduct search and retrieval operations.
However, when the team arrived, Salomon’s body had already been recovered by a motorbanca carrying his live-in partner and their two children.
Went to Fish Cage to Repair Fishing Nets
Initial information gathered by authorities indicated that Salomon had gone to a fish cage to repair and sew fishing nets before he disappeared.
According to a co-worker, Salomon was seen at around 11:00 a.m. on September 12 swimming in the direction of their residence.
His son later returned to the fish cage at approximately 2:00 p.m. that same day to pick him up, but Salomon was no longer there.
His whereabouts subsequently became the subject of concern until his body was discovered in the surrounding waters the following day.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death remain subject to investigation. The Coast Guard’s initial account did not immediately identify the cause of death.
Body Turned Over to Authorities
At approximately 1:45 a.m. on September 13, Coast Guard personnel aboard AB-270 assisted by towing the motorbanca carrying Salomon’s recovered body, along with his family, toward the shoreline of Boulevard in Barangay Santiago, Pagadian City.
The remains were subsequently turned over to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) of Pagadian City and the Pagadian City Police Station for proper disposition and further investigation.
Authorities are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding Salomon’s disappearance and establish the official cause of death based on the appropriate investigative and medico-legal procedures.
The incident highlights the risks faced by fishing communities whose livelihoods depend on daily work in coastal and nearshore waters, where accidents, strong currents and other maritime hazards can quickly turn routine activities into emergencies.
The Philippine Coast Guard said it remains committed to providing prompt and coordinated maritime response, particularly in search, rescue and retrieval operations, in support of the safety and welfare of coastal communities.
For now, authorities continue to document the incident and process the recovered remains while Salomon’s family awaits further findings on what happened to him.