A 27-year-old man was wounded after he was allegedly bitten by a crocodile in Barangay Buan, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi evening on Monday, February 3, 2025.

According to the man’s family, the man was sitting at the veranda of their stilt house when the crocodile allegedly jumped onto the veranda and bit him.

The man then fell into the sea.

“Nag-upo sila sa veranda tapos hindi nila namalayan na meron palang buwaya sa dagat. Tapos yung kinagat na siya, nahulog siya sa baba ng dagat,” the man’s family said.

“Sabi nila malaki daw kasi, kaya niyang tumalon mula sa dagat patungo sa open sala ng bahay ng biktima,” MDRRM Officer, Sarima Atara, said.

The man was brought to the hospital for treatment after he sustained wounds in his back. He is now safe, as of this writing.

Residents have tried to search for the crocodile but to no avail.

The man’s family said up to seven residents in the area have been bitten by a crocodile.

“Yung mga taga bayan po dito marami na pong nakagat ng buwaya, mga halos seven tao na po nakagat na, pero buwis buhay lang po walang namamatay, sugat sugat lang sila,” the man’s family said.

MDRRMO said Barangay Buan is among the three barangays in the town that is infested by saltwater crocodiles. The the other two are Barangays Dungon and Karaha.

The concern has already been forwarded to the provincial government.

“Nasama na yan sa council meeting namin na it is one of the threats among the residents, especially sa mga infested areas. Yung preventive measures namin, constantly, yung DRRMC chair in charge, yung barangay chairman, constantly remind the residents na dapat mag-ingat,” Atara said.