DOTC-PCG: The search and rescue (SAR) team of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Mati retrieved a cadaver of a seven-year-old boy who was reported missing after being swept away from a river in Mati City during the onslaught of typhoon Caloy.

Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Antonio O Peralta, Deputy Commander of CGS Mati, together with several local government unit officials from Barangay Central, Mati, Davao Oriental, received a report last Match 21 that a missing child identified as Nikko Quilat Sumambot was allegedly swept away by strong current from the river to the vicinity waters off Mati City.

CGS Mati immediately conducted maritime patrol along the vicinity waters of Mati City and searched the entire Fujada Bay. Despite of the unit’s endeavor to determine the whereabouts of the child, the search and rescue efforts was temporarily suspended due to poor visibility in the area which yielded negative results.

After two days of scouring the area, at 4:28 PM, the cadaver Nikko was found floating and recovered by CGS Mati SAR team at vicinity waters 1.32 NM east off Makumbol Point in Davao Oriental.

Said team arrived at Mati Wharf together with the retrieved cadaver and was further inspected by Mati Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO).
The body was then turned-over to Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) in Mati City for evaluation and appropriate action.