Body of 7-year-old Kalinga boy who drowned in Baggao recovered from Cagayan river

BAGGAO, Cagayan — The body of a seven-year-old boy from Pinukpuk, Kalinga, who reportedly drowned in Pared River in Baggao, Cagayan, was recovered on Wednesday afternoon, October 14, after an overnight search.

The Baggao Integrated Command and Control Center reported that fisherman Warlito Repotola, a resident of Barangay Taguing, spotted the boy’s body floating near the barangay shortly before 5 p.m. and immediately alerted authorities.

The child, who was residing in Barangay Masical, Baggao, was reported to have drowned around noon on Tuesday, October 13.

According to Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) head Narciso Corpuz, rescuers cleared accumulated wood and other obstructions near the ongoing construction of the Poblacion-Bagunot Bridge to help facilitate the search.

The Baggao MDRRMO had sought assistance from the Kalinga Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) after the incident. Kalinga PDRRMO head Christian Luyaben confirmed to Guru Press Cordillera that the boy was a native of Pinukpuk, Kalinga.

Kalinga had prepared to deploy four Lumin-awa rescuers with equipment and four Philippine Coast Guard personnel to assist in the search and retrieval operation.

The retrieval operation involved divers from the Philippine Coast Guard-Aparri, the Baggao MDRRMO, and personnel from Barangays Masical and Poblacion.

At the request of the boy’s parents and relatives, his body was brought to a hospital.

Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.