A man was killed in a crocodile attack in a mangrove area along the Marabajay River in Barangay Rio Tuba, Bataraza town, Palawan, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
According to the Coast Guard Station Southern Palawan, the body of the victim, identified as Leonard Casio, was recovered after an extensive search operation led by personnel from the Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Rio Tuba.
At around 2:49 a.m. on Wednesday, Joebel Fuentes, a resident of Barangay Calauag, Taytay, reported to authorities that Casio-his companion-had been dragged by a crocodile while they were in the mangrove area.
A search and rescue team was immediately dispatched, but the high tide, poor visibility, and warnings from residents about the dangerous presence of crocodiles in the area hindered their efforts.
The team temporarily suspended the search for safety reasons.
Operations resumed at 5:30 a.m., and after several hours of searching, Casio’s body was eventually found and retrieved later that day. The remains were brought to Barangay Rio Tuba, where family members positively identified the victim. His body was later transported to a funeral home in Brooke’s Point.