TARLAC CITY — What began as a desperate search for four passengers swept away after the Agana Bridge collapsed has now turned into a race to find the last remaining missing victim.
Three of the four passengers who disappeared when a Toyota Avanza plunged into the Tarlac River have since been recovered in separate areas of Pangasinan, while Paul Harvey Collado remains unaccounted for, according to the latest reports from authorities.
The vehicle was carrying five people when a portion of the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City gave way on the night of August 29, 2026, amid torrential rains and powerful river currents associated with the southwest monsoon, or Habagat. One passenger, Nathaniel Dizon, survived and was rescued shortly after the incident.
Three victims recovered in Pangasinan
The first victim recovered was James Patrick Taborlupa, whose remains were found in the waters near Barangay Carael in Dagupan/Lingayen area on August 31. His family later confirmed his identity.
The following day, Shanen Tuhao, a resident of Cavite, was found in Barangay San Vicente in Bayambang, Pangasinan. Residents reportedly spotted her body floating in the river before authorities were alerted.
Then, on September 5, authorities recovered the remains of Shiela Mae Taborlupa in Barangay Tampog, Bayambang, Pangasinan. Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap confirmed her identity, making her the third of the four initially missing passengers to be recovered.
That left Paul Harvey Collado as the only passenger still missing.
SUV recovered — but Collado was not inside
The search took another major turn on September 2 when rescuers recovered the Toyota Avanza from the Tarlac River.
The vehicle had been swept downstream after falling from the collapsed bridge. A crane, excavator and other heavy equipment were used during the retrieval operation.
However, none of the missing passengers was found inside the vehicle, meaning the search had to continue beyond the crash site and along areas that could have been reached by the river’s strong current.
The discovery of the empty vehicle helped rescuers narrow down the circumstances of the incident but offered no immediate answer about Collado’s whereabouts.
₱100,000 reward offered for information
With Collado still missing, Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap later announced a ₱100,000 reward for information that could help authorities locate him.
Search-and-retrieval efforts have been expanded across portions of the river system and areas potentially reached by the powerful currents that swept through Tarlac and Pangasinan.
Authorities have appealed to residents, barangays and communities along waterways connected to the Tarlac River to immediately report any information that could help investigators and rescue teams.
Bridge collapse raises wider safety concerns
The tragedy unfolded during a period of severe monsoon rains that caused widespread flooding and infrastructure damage in Tarlac.
The Agana Bridge was not the only major bridge affected. The Aquino Bridge in Tarlac City also collapsed around the same period, disrupting transportation and leaving motorists with limited alternative routes. Authorities subsequently launched repair and assessment efforts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. later announced ₱300 million in national government assistance for bridge repairs in Tarlac City. A temporary Bailey bridge was also being assembled to restore connectivity across the damaged Agana Bridge area.
The collapse has also prompted questions about the structural condition of aging bridges and the effects of extreme rainfall, flooding, erosion and powerful river currents. Reports have noted that authorities were examining possible factors affecting the bridge’s failure, including river conditions and erosion.
Search continues for the last victim
More than two weeks after the August 29 tragedy, the Agana Bridge incident remains unresolved for Collado’s family.
Three victims have been recovered, one passenger survived, and the vehicle has been pulled from the river.
But one name is still missing from the final chapter of the search: Paul Harvey Collado.
Authorities and rescue personnel continue to appeal for information that could finally determine what happened to him after the vehicle plunged into the Tarlac River.
For his family, the search is far from over.
Leave a Reply