Father dies, son missing after being swept away by Zambales river

OLONGAPO CITY — A 35-year-old father was found dead on Wednesday, a day after he and his seven-year-old son went missing after a carabao-drawn cart he was steering was swept away by strong river currents in Botolan town, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

Simeon Candule, a resident of Barangay Palis in Botolan, was traveling home with his son around 1 p.m. on Tuesday when a strong, fast-flowing current threw them off the cart and into the river, which swept them downstream, according to a Coast Guard report.  

READ: Man found dead after being swept away by river current in Zambales

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An initial search and rescue team was deployed to accessible portions of the riverbank, followed by an intensified surface search where responders spotted a body along the shoreline. A family member positively identified the remains of Candule.

The Coast Guard turned over the body of Candule to his family and transported them to Barangay Palis, while the search for his son continues./coa