An outreach for elementary graduates ended in tragedy on Friday afternoon after a vehicle was swept away by a strong river current in Barangay Dalupirip, leaving two men dead.
According to a report from the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-CAR) Regional Tactical Operations Center (RTOC), the incident occurred at approximately 1:20 PM on March 27, 2026, in the Tabu area of Dalupirip.
The victims, traveling in a black Toyota Fortuner had just finished conducting graduation pictorials at Tabu Elementary School. The group was heading back to Baguio City when they attempted to cross the river.
Initial investigations revealed that a powerful current pushed the SUV, causing it to spin. The force of the water lifted the front of the vehicle before dragging it approximately 100 meters downstream. The car eventually came to a rest half-submerged in the water.
While the vehicle was being swept away, the occupants managed to exit the cabin. Local residents and concerned citizens immediately rushed to the riverbank to assist in the rescue.
Five of the six occupants were successfully brought to safety, one passenger went missing when waters ran high but was retrieved lifeless at past 7pm after search and rescue operations led by local authorities and emergency responders concluded.
The Itogon Municipal Police Station (MPS), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Municipal Health Office (MHO) responded to the scene following the official report at 3:30 PM. MEC