Couple and Teenage Son in Iloilo Drown While Crossing River to Gather Sugarcane
A couple and their teenage son drowned while crossing a river in Calinog, Iloilo, during their family trip to gather sugarcane.
On Saturday morning (March 14, 2026), the family was crossing a river in Barangay Canabajan when the unfortunate incident happened. The victims were a husband and wife along with their 15-year-old son, according to local authorities.
Rodolfo Valencia, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Calinog, said the family regularly crossed the river to reach areas where they could cut sugarcane.
The family lived in Barangay Camalonggo and was already familiar with the route, but the river’s strong current made the situation dangerous.
While they were crossing, the slipper of the teenage boy was suddenly carried away by the flowing water. The boy tried to retrieve it and followed it into the river. after a few moments, he struggled in the water and began to drown.
Seeing his son in danger, the father immediately tried to rescue him. However, he also got caught in the strong current and was unable to stay afloat. The mother then rushed to help both of them, but she too was overwhelmed by the water.
None of the three family members knew how to swim, which made it even harder for them to survive the situation. The strong current quickly carried them away before anyone nearby could offer help.
Search efforts later found the bodies of the parents in a river area within Passi City, where the current had carried them. The tragic discovery left their community in shock and sadness.
The couple also had a daughter who had gone with them earlier that day. Fortunately, she did not attempt to cross the river and stayed behind, which saved her from the same fate.
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