Rescuers race to find 13- and 11-year-old boys who went missing in Reina Mercedes, Isabela River

Reina Mercedes, Isabela – Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the bodies of two boys believed to have drowned while swimming in a river in Reina Mercedes, Isabela, last week.

The missing minors were identified by Isabela police as Manuel Galabay Ramos, 13, and Xander Frogoso, 11.

Based on a report from the Reina Mercedes Municipal Police Station obtained by local media, Manuel and Xander were reportedly bathing in a river in Barangay District 1, Laogenia, Reina Mercedes, with relatives on December 27, 2025, when they went missing.

Since then, the two have failed to return home. The incident was immediately reported to authorities, who continue to conduct search and rescue operations in areas where the boys may have been carried by the river’s current.

According to XFM-Santiago, the families of Manuel and Xander have appealed for prayers, hoping the children will still be found safe and alive.

Meanwhile, the public is urged to immediately report to authorities any information that may help locate the missing boys.

While there is no publicly available data on the exact number of drowning incidents in Isabela during the Yuletide season this year, several police reports indicate that similar incidents occurred in the province in 2024, resulting in fatalities.

On December 3, 2024, three elementary pupils aged 8, 9, and 10 drowned while swimming along the Cagayan River in Barangay Annapurna, Tumauini. The victims were declared dead when recovered by authorities shortly after the incident.