A couple and their 15-year-old son drowned in a river in the Municipality of Calinog in Iloilo.

Investigators said the family was crossing part of the river in Barangay Canabajan when the child's slippe was reportedly washed away. 

The boy tried to retrieve his slipper until he reached a deep portion of the river. His parents waded into the water after him but they, too, struggled to stay afloat. 

They were carried away by the current, eventually. 

“Ti-nry ng bata na ma-recover ang tsinelas kaso umabot na siya sa kantilado na portion at nag-struggle siya. That’s why and nanay, nag-try rin na tumulong. Kaya lang, unfortunately, siya at ang tatay, nag-attempt rin at hindi rin naka-recover,” said Capt. Melvin Mercado, Deputy Chief of the Calinog Municipal Police Station.

The boy’s body was recovered in Calinog but his parent’s remains were found in different parts of the river in the neighboring town of Passi.

Morning on March 14, 2026, the body of the father was recovered in Barangay Pangi. An hour later, his wife’s body was found in Barangay Agdahonn, another barangay in Passi.

“Mga alas-nueve y media, natagpuan ang isang biktima sa Barangay Pangi. Tapos, ang kanyang asawa na si alyas Clarita, doon natagpuan sa Pangi. Nang ire-rescue na sana siya ng mga residente doon, naanod pa itong si Clarita papunta sa Barangay Agdahon na bahagi ng ilog. Wala na talaga, dinala na lang sila ng rescuer,” said Msg. Roderick Larida, investigator at Passi Municipal Police Station.

Police said the family reportedly often crossed the river to harvest sugarcane on the other side. However, the three reportedly did not know how to swim.