Body found in Santa Rosa river after two-day-search

After two days of search and retrieval operations, a drowned body of a man was found at the Pampanga River in Barangay San Mariano in the town of Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija on 16 October 2025.

According to witnesses, the 33-year-old man was only told to fetch ampalaya on 14 October 2025, but did not return home. Some residents claimed that they saw the victim raising his hand while in the river, thinking that he was just swimming.

A search and retrieval operation (SAO) was conducted by the PDRRMO Nueva Ecija, Palayan City CDRRMO, Santa Rosa MDRRMO, and the Cabanatuan City CDRRMO as well as the BFP Nueva Ecija, BFP Santa Rosa, barangay officials and the local government.

After two days of SAO, the body was found in Pampanga River near Barangay San Anton in the town of San Leonardo, a few kilometers from where he was last seen.