BAKUN, Benguet – The body of a farmer who went missing in Bakun river was found on Saturday morning, Aug. 20, four days after he was swept away by the river’s raging waters in Likew Section, Sinacbat, Barangay Poblacion, Bakun in this province.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) said the victim, identified as Mateo Dal-it, 46, of Sitio Dalingoan, Sinacbat, Bakun, Benguet, was found at around 9:45 in the morning.
His body was seen resting on a large stone underneath, 150 meters away from where the victim was swept by the river’s strong current.
On Aug. 17, at around 9:00 in the morning, it was reported to the Bakun Municipal Police Station that the victim had been swept by the raging waters.
Investigation revealed that the victim, along with Bobby Atoling, 58, of Sitio Beyeng, had brought their cows from the Poblacion and were walking towards the Sinacbat Trail.
While the two were crossing the Bakun River, Dal-it assisted the first cow and successfully pulled it across the river.
When he was about to assist or pull the second cow, he was carried by the strong current of the Bakun River.
Atoling tried to save his companion but his effort proved futile because of the strong current. Dal-it went missing until the rescuers found his body four days later.