A seven-year-old boy who had been missing for five hours was found dead late Friday, September 26 in a river below the dike near his home in Medina, Misamis Oriental, police said.

Donard Castaños Talaroc, a second-grader at Governor Pelaez Elementary School, was discovered drowned during a search and rescue effort conducted by village officials, according to Police Capt. Teddy Macarayo, chief of the Medina town police.

Initial investigation, based on the statement of Talaroc’s mother, Chona Castaños, 44, revealed that the boy asked permission to go play at a neighbor’s house around 5 pm that day.

Macarayo said Castaños became concerned when her son hadn’t returned home by 6 pm. She searched neighbors’ homes but couldn’t find him. She then asked neighbors and barangay officials for help.

During the search, Barangay Councilor Marcelino Ipanag and a resident identified only as Avelino Indat discovered the boy’s lifeless body floating in the river near the Cabug Bridge in Purok 3, Barangay Cabug.

NO SAFETY FEATURES. The absence of railings on the dike (left) and the presence of a condemned beam bridge receiver (right) create safety hazards for children in Purok 3, Barangay Cabug, Medina, Misamis Oriental. Residents are calling for the structure's demolition following a recent drowning in the river. Photo By Edwin Iyo

Ellen Estampa, who owns the house where the mother and son lived, recounted the last time the child was seen.

“Ang pananghid moadto sa silingan kay magdula, apan gilipat ang inahan kay diha diay sa ubos sa among balay, aning dike, kay namingwit. Ug posibli nga ang maong bata na slide sa danlog nga bahin sa dike ug nahulog sa suba ug nalumos,” Estampa said.

Following the tragic drowning of her son, Chona S. Castaños, pleaded with municipal officials to take action, hoping to prevent similar accidents.

Castaños believes that if the dike had been equipped with railings, her son would still be alive today.

Residents noted that the dike is unsafe for children, as it lacks any railings, and the river is deep, making the area extremely dangerous.

Given the number of residents, including many children, living near the embankment in Purok 3, Barangay Cabug, they pointed out the urgent need for town authorities to address the issue.

In response to the incident, Medina town Councilor Arthur Cahoy called for the installation of safety measures, such as dike railings, to prevent future drownings.

He said he plans to bring the issue before the Sangguniang Bayan (town council) during its regular session tomorrow, September 30.