DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A heart-wrenching tragedy struck Cotabato City as two young brothers drowned in the Matampay River amidst a heavy downpour yesterday afternoon.
The search for their bodies, which involved multiple agencies and family members, spanned nearly four agonizing hours.
The incident occurred around 3 PM, during a period of intense rainfall. According to Nasrudin Maguindra, a local Purok leader who spoke to DXMS Radio Bida, Haider Badal, 11, and his brother Johair, 9, were bathing in the river when disaster struck.
Haider was the first to be overwhelmed by the river’s swift currents. In a courageous but ultimately tragic attempt to save his brother, Johair was also swept away.
Their bodies were discovered later that evening, around 7 PM, after extensive search efforts by the Philippine Coast Guard, the Cotabato City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and their distraught relatives. Sadly, both boys were found lifeless.
This devastating event is the third such incident in recent months involving drownings in the Matampay River, as noted by Maguindra. The recurrent tragedies underscore the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols and public awareness around the dangers of local waterways, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Office of the Vice President (OVP), led by Vice President Sara Duterte, promptly extended support to the bereaved families. The OVP’s regional office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (OVP-BARMM) provided Janazah Kits to the boys’ uncle, Bonnie Batua, to aid in the Islamic burial rites.
Garib Abas, the BARMM port manager, contacted the OVP immediately after learning about the drowning. The provision of Janazah Kits is part of the OVP’s Medical and Burial (MAB) assistance program, which ensures that the deceased are honored under Islamic traditions.
“Muslims are obligated to wash, pray over, and bury their dead following specific religious rites. To support this practice, the OVP-BARMM offers Janazah Sets, which can be requested to facilitate these sacred duties,” the OVP-BARMM statement explained.
The Janazah Kits include essential items for ritual cleansing, prayer, and burial, reflecting the OVP’s commitment to supporting the community’s cultural and religious needs during times of loss.
As the community grieves this profound loss, there is a growing call for increased vigilance and preventive measures to safeguard against future tragedies in the Matampay River.
