By Aaron Recuenco
A 10-year-old boy was snatched from a boat and dragged into a river by a crocodile in Balabac town, Palawan, last Sunday, police reported.
(AFP Photo/SAEED KHAN/MANILA BULLETIN)
The head and right leg of the boy, Milhasan Suraping were recovered Wednesday in a mangrove forest in Sitio Tagpanasan in Barangay Salang, according to Brig. Gen. Tomas Apolinario, the Mimaropa (Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) regional police chief.
Milhasan was on his way home in a small boat together with two siblings. His family rides a small boat to buy food items in a store on the other side of the river.
“On their way back home, the victim was snapped and later dragged by a crocodile,” said Apolinario.
The boy’s father and his neighbors searched along the river but could not find him.
Lt. Col. Socrates Faltado, Mimaropa police spokesman, said the head and the leg of the boy were found four days later.
“The victim’s father, Robinsio Suraping, recovered the remains and after cleaning the body parts buried them,” Faltado said.
Several people have been killed in crocodile attacks over the years in the towns in the southernmost part of Palawan, which is home to the saltwater crocodile.
Recently, girl was snatched and eaten by crocodile while she was playing near a river. Also just recently, a man had to bite a crocodile to free his son from the animal’s jaws.
Experts said the attacks could be attributed to human encroachment on the natural habitat of the crocodile.