Fishing trip ends in tragedy: TWO men found dead in Benguet River three days after they went missing

Kapangan, Benguet – Three days after they failed to return home from a fishing trip, the bodies of two men were found lifeless along the Pey-og River in Kapangan, Benguet, on May 30, 2026.

The victims were identified by authorities as Mehares Dempoy Talibio, 47, and Tamar Clifford Maik, 29, both residents of Sitio Imbangol, Barangay Boklaoan, Kapangan.

According to a report from authorities obtained by local media outlets, Talibio and Maik went to the river on May 27 to fish but never returned home, prompting their families to search for them.

On May 30, relatives searched various portions of the river where the two men were believed to have gone.

The search ended in tragedy when the victims were discovered dead, floating in separate sections of the river.

Authorities received a report of the incident at around 7:10 p.m. on May 30. Rescue teams immediately conducted a retrieval operation and successfully recovered both bodies before 9 p.m.

A traditional “daw-is” ritual was performed before the victims’ remains were brought back to their respective homes.

The 29-year-old victim was laid to rest on Monday, June 1, while the 47-year-old’s wake was still ongoing, with family members and friends gathering to pay their final respects.

As of this writing, police are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following the tragedy, authorities reminded the public to exercise caution when visiting rivers and waterways, particularly in areas where water conditions can change suddenly and without warning.