BAGUIO CITY — After more than two weeks, search and rescue operatives finally retrieved the body of a drowning victim at the river in Barangay Quillat, Langiden, Abra in the morning of 20 December 2023.

Authorities identified the victim as Joseph Borreta, a resident of Agtangao, Bangued Abra, who was reported missing after he drowned while crossing the river on 4 December 2023.

For days and weeks, personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Bangued, the Bangued Police and Langiden Police and troops of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 conducted search operations.

They were also aided by the local residents.

Personnel of the Langiden Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, MDRRM San Quintin, MDRRM Pidigan and even the Ilocos Sur PDRRM joined the search.

The operation was led by the Abra Provincial Risk Disaster Management Office.