Two boys who had been missing since Saturday, July 19, were found dead after being swept away by strong river currents in Barangay Bombongan, Morong, Rizal.

The Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) identified the victims as Gene Heinrich Dacumos, 12, and Ruben Cioseph Giray Cubilla, 10, both residents of Binangonan, Rizal.

According to the Morong Municipal Police Station, the incident occurred on Saturday but was only reported to them on Sunday morning, July 20.

Based on their investigation, the victims were last seen near a bridge in the area, accompanied by another boy, Gene's sibling, who reportedly witnessed them being swept away by the river’s strong current.

However, the boy admitted he became afraid and did not immediately inform his parents or alert the authorities. He only reported the incident on Sunday morning.

The Morong MPS promptly coordinated with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), along with BPSO personnel and volunteer responders, to initiate search and rescue operations for the victims.

On Monday, July 21, despite heavy rains, rescuers from Barangay San Isidro, Tanay, in coordination with the Coast Guard Sub-Station Tanay, PNP Tanay, and Tanay MDRRMO, recovered the body of Dacumos at the Tanay Dike.

As the search and retrieval operations continued, the body of Cubilla was found the following day, Tuesday, July 22.

Meanwhile, through social media posts, the victims’ parents expressed their enduring love and pain over the loss of their children.

“Wala nang sasakit pa sa isang magulang na mawalan ng anak, lubos ang aking kalungkutan ngayon sa iyong pagpanaw… Bagamat lubhang masakit ang iyong pagkawala, haharapin ko ito ng may lakas at tapang. Palagi kang mananatili sa aking puso, ang iyong mga yakap, halik at ngiti magagandang alaala ay dadalhin ko hanggat sa muli tayong magkita nak. Hindi kita malilimutan, mahal na mahal ka ni mama (There is no greater pain for a parent than losing a child. I am filled with deep sorrow over your passing… Though your loss is unbearably painful, I will face it with strength and courage. You will always remain in my heart. Your hugs, kisses, and smiles, all the beautiful memories—I will carry them with me until we meet again, my child. I will never forget you. Mama loves you so much),” Dacumos' mother said.

“Alam kong masaya na ngayon ang aking anak dahil nahanap na namin sya at makakauwi na rin sya. Anak, free na free ka na pumunta sa mga gusto mong puntahan… Sana kung may susunod na buhay man, ikaw pa rin ang magiging anak ko (I know that my child is happy now because we have finally found him and he can now come home. My child, you are now free to go wherever you want to go… I hope that if there is another life, you will still be my child),” Cubilla's mom said.