3-year-old boy missing in Bataan; child feared swept in river

A three-year-old boy is missing after he was believed to have been swept in a river amid heavy rain in Dinalupihan, Bataan. 

According to Oscar Oida’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the child’s mother said her son was nowhere to be found in his bed at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday. She believes the toddler followed his brothers who went swimming in a nearby river. 

Their neighbors braved the rains and the strong river current in hopes of finding the young boy. 

“Malaking tulong po sa amin yun, yung makita lang po yung anak ko, napakalaki po,” said Israel Tumambac, the boy’s father. 

(It will be a big relief for us if our son is found.) 

“Malayo na po yung narating namin mag-asawa, nagbabakasakali nasa gilid-gilid makita namin pero wala….Masakit po sa akin yun kasi sa akin siya nanggaling, pinalaki ko siya…pero hindi ko po siya pinabayaan,” said Rizza Goco, the mother. 

(We have searched far in hopes of finding our son on the shore, but we have yet to find him…It hurts me because he came from my womb, I took care of him…I never abandoned him.) 

Both parents have been in distress since their son went missing. Adding to the pain is that the child was supposed to celebrate his third birthday on Wednesday. 

“Nagyaya na po siya ng ano dahil birthday niya kinabukasan, ang sabi ko sa kanya, mamaya na kaunti, kasi hindi tayo makakadaan sa daanan, lubog ng baha,” Israel recalled telling his son. 

(He was asking to go somewhere because his birthday is coming, but I told him that we cannot go out yet because the road is flooded.) 

The parents are praying that their son will be found soon. 

Balanga City

Meanwhile in Balanga City, rescuers battled strong currents as surging floodwaters hit a neighborhood because of a broken dike.

The incident happened on July 22, Tuesday, in Barangay Tuyo—which literally means "dry village"—where responders risked their lives to stack sandbags in an attempt to protect houses in the area.

Video of the effort was posted by the Sangguniang Barangay of Tuyo and reposted by Regional TV News' One North Central Luzon. 

Affected families were safely evacuated with the assistance of barangay officials and volunteers.

Personnel from the local Department of Public Works and Highways set up a temporary wall to contain the breach. — Vince Angelo Ferreras, Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/ RF/ VDV, GMA Integrated News