8-year-old boy drowns at Manila's Baseco Beach

An eight-year-old boy drowned at Baseco Beach in Manila on Monday, October 26, 2026.

In a “24 Oras” report by Jhomer Apresto on Tuesday, after returning home from school at 11 a.m. Grade 2 student Jamric Ash Panes asked his parents for permission to go to an internet café, but went swimming with friends instead.

"Hindi nila sinabi eh tapos inutusan niya ‘yung mga batang kasama niya na bukas na lang daw sabihin sa amin tapos tinago nila ‘yung damit,” the victim’s mother said.

(They didn't tell us because he instructed his friends to only let us know tomorrow, and they even hid his clothes.)

"Ngayon ‘yung bata na hinahanap namin wala diyan, ‘yung 12-year-old. Kung sumigaw po sana sila, maraming tao sa dagat na naliligo,” she added.

(Now, the 12-year-old child we are looking for is nowhere to be found. Had they called for help, there would have been many people swimming in the sea who could have helped.)

Authorities are now investigating the mother's account.

"Malalim na imbestigasyon kailangan natin diyan. Actually ‘yung kaso, inakyat na ‘yung investigation sa homicide ng headquarters,” Manila Police District-13 Deputy Station Commander P/Maj. Armando Linget said.

(A deep investigation is needed there. Actually, the case’s investigation has already been transferred to the headquarters’ homicide division.)

The victim’s parents reported him missing to the local barangay at around 5 p.m. on Monday.

A joint search and rescue operation was then conducted at sea by the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Manila Police District, and barangay personnel, who utilized thermal drones to detect body heat in the water.

However, the child was already lifeless when responders recovered his body on the same day at around 8 p.m.

According to the barangay, the victim drowned after wandering into a deep section of the beach.

"Yung Philippine Coast Guard naman po is nag-conduct na po sila ng dive, dun sa area. Then doon po sa malalim na part is may barko po kasi doon na hinukay so malalim na area po talaga siya kung saan nakita yung bata,” Barangay 649 Public Information Office Administrator Arbie Bryan Rico said.

(The Philippine Coast Guard conducted a dive in the area. The child was found in a deep section near a ship where excavation had taken place.)

The victim’s remains have been brought to a funeral parlor, with his burial scheduled today, October 27, 2026.

Barangay and police officials had previously reminded the public that swimming at Baseco Beach is strictly prohibited. Following the incident, authorities renewed their call for parents to closely supervise their children to prevent similar tragedies.

It can be recalled that a similar incident occurred in August, when a 13-year-old boy drowned while swimming off Baseco. – Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/LDF, GMA News