Two students drowned while swimming in a river in Barangay Caturay, Bayambang, Pangasinan.

As of this writing, authorities continue to search for the other student, local officials and family members said.

Jaime Austria said two of his children were among four students who went to the river after meeting friends in Barangay Inalorenza around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026. One child survived and is currently hospitalized, while another remains missing, as of press time.

“Mahirap mawalan ng anak… yung asawa ko, masakit ang ulo, hindi niya matanggap,” Austria, father of two of the victims, said.

Austria said he allowed his child to leave home to meet classmates, unaware they had planned to go to the river.

“Sabi niya may gagawin lang sila ng mga kaklase nya ‘yun pala pupunta na sila sa ilog,” he said.

Authorities recovered the body of one victim on the day of the incident and another the following morning. Retrieval operations are ongoing for the remaining missing student, as of this writing.

School officials said that their three students attended their school’s foundation day activities earlier that morning but did not return to class in the afternoon.

“Sabi namin bumalik kayo sa hapon pero kakaunti ang bumalik pero hindi na sila pumasok, nagcheck kami ng attendance wala sila,” Rey Palisoc, officer-in-charge of Sanlibo National High School, said.

Authorities have yet to release an official statement as the search operation continues.