Missing laborer’s bloated body found

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Two days after going missing, the bloated body of a laborer was found floating beside a dike in a subdivision, Barangay Iponan early Monday morning.

A team of the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Department (CDRRMD) retrieved the bloated body of Vincent Okit Racuay, a resident of Sitio Bolao along a dike near Westfield Subdivision.

The CDRRMD reported that the USAR team responded to a report of residents along the dike about a body floating beside the newly constructed dike.

The victim’s brother Jason went out for a picnic during their dayoff on Sunday along the Iponan river about 12 noon Sunday and started a drinking spree when the river began swelling because of heavy rains in the hinterland areas of the barangays.

The brother then decided to cross the river to return to their house across the river when strong undercurrent carried the victim downstream.

The brother attempted to rescue the victim but was also carried away by the current. He, however, was also able to swim back to safety.

Search and rescue operation were carried out until Sunday afternoon but was called off due to inclement weather.

Retrieval operation carried out by Coast guard frogmen continued Monday but still yielded negative results.