CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Tragedy struck on Friday as a Grade 10 student, reported missing since 3 December, was found lifeless in the Cagayan de Oro River in Zone 1, Barangay Bonbon.

The 15-year-old, a student at Liceo de Cagayan University, was discovered by Bantay Dagat volunteers, still wearing his school uniform and already showing early signs of decomposition.

Relatives said the boy was last seen leaving for school on Wednesday. He reportedly sent a text to his mother that evening, saying he was booking a motorcycle ride, but authorities later confirmed no booking had been made that day.

Identification was a challenge, as the victim had no ID on him, and police relied on family recognition and the two rings he was wearing to confirm his identity. His cell phone was also missing, raising further questions about his final movements.

Local police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death, promising to pursue all leads to determine what happened.