2 CIDG civilian agents drown off Camarines Sur

Two civilian agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) drowned while one remains missing in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur at the height of Tropical Storm Marce.

The bodies of the agents, identified as Tomas Rentoy VII and Isagani Dadis, were recovered on Saturday morning.

A group of operatives including Rentoy and Dadis had embarked on a trip to Garchitorena to conduct an operation Friday morning. They left the Tamban Tinambac Port on a small boat despite sea travel warnings due to the tropical storm.

When they reached the area of Barangay Mapid in Lagonoy, the waves reportedly increased in size and strength, causing their boat to capsize.

Most of the operatives survived, including Chief Inspector Ronnie Fabia of the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office.

However, authorities continue to search for one Senior Police Officer 4 Edwin Pagao.

The bodies of Rentoy and Dadis have already been taken to a funeral parlor in Naga City.

The Coast Guard station in Camarines Sur said that the police team didn't coordinate with them about the trip, presumably due to the confidentiality of the purpose.

He added that based on the photos sent to his office, many of the agents were not wearing life vests.

Had the CIDG informed them, the Coast Guard would not have cleared the trip due to the "No Sail Policy" during storms, it said.

Tropical Storm Marce (international name: Tokage) passed through the MIMAROPA region late Friday afternoon, bringing heavy rains to most of Visayas. —report from Michael Biando/Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News