TARLAC CITY, Philippines — The search for victims of the Agana Bridge collapse has taken a grim turn after authorities recovered the body of one of the passengers whose vehicle plunged into the swollen Tarlac River.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recovered the body in waters off Barangay Pugaro in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, after a motorbanca operator reported seeing what appeared to be a floating body.
Authorities later confirmed that the remains belonged to one of the passengers of the vehicle that fell into the river when a portion of Agana Bridge in Tarlac City collapsed on August 29.
Three passengers remain missing.
The latest development corrects earlier reports that four people remained unaccounted for. Initially, five people were inside the vehicle and only one survived the incident. With the recovery of one of the four missing passengers, the current count stands at one survivor, one recovered victim and three people still missing.
Body found downstream in Pangasinan
The PCG said its Dagupan station received a report at around noon regarding a floating body spotted off Barangay Pugaro.
Responders immediately proceeded to the area, verified the report and recovered the remains. The body was subsequently brought to Barangay Poblacion Oeste and turned over to Dagupan City Police Station 5 for proper disposition.
Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap later confirmed that the recovered person was one of the victims of the Agana Bridge incident.
The victim was identified by the Inquirer as James Patrick Taborlupa, 30, a former staff nurse at Jecsons Medical Center in Tarlac City. Fishermen reportedly helped retrieve his body in Dagupan.
The discovery also shows how far the powerful river currents may have carried those swept away during the collapse.
Three passengers remain missing
The three people still being sought have been identified in reports as Paul Harvey Collado, Shanen Tuhao and Shiela Mae Taborlupa.
Search-and-rescue teams have expanded their operations along the Tarlac River and downstream areas.
According to the Philippine News Agency, responders had searched approximately 35 kilometers of the Tarlac River, extending operations toward Ablang Bridge and Paniqui Bridge, although the effort had not yet produced additional recoveries.
The families of the missing passengers have also appealed for authorities to widen the search and deploy additional resources. Earlier, eyewitnesses recalled hearing cries for help as the vehicle was swept away by the fast-moving river.
How the Agana Bridge disaster unfolded
The tragedy happened on the evening of August 29, when a portion of Agana Bridge in Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City, gave way amid heavy Southwest Monsoon rains and powerful river currents.
A Toyota Avanza carrying five people plunged into the Tarlac River.
One passenger, Nataniel Dizon, was rescued, while the other four initially remained missing. Philippine Air Force and other emergency teams subsequently joined the search operation.
The collapse came only a day after a portion of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge, also in Tarlac City, had collapsed amid the same period of intense monsoon weather.
The twin bridge failures disrupted transportation and left motorists relying on alternative routes.
Tarlac placed under state of calamity
The bridge collapse occurred amid widespread flooding across Tarlac.
The provincial government subsequently declared a state of calamity, citing widespread flooding, damaged infrastructure and major roads that had become impassable.
Authorities also warned that additional monsoon rains could further complicate rescue operations and recovery efforts.
Temporary bridge planned as authorities race to restore access
While the search for the missing passengers continues, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has begun mobilizing equipment and materials for a temporary Bailey bridge at the Agana Bridge site.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the agency was prioritizing the Agana crossing because of its importance in reconnecting affected communities.
He also pointed to the age of the bridges, saying they had been standing for decades and should have been repaired, retrofitted or replaced earlier.
For now, however, the priority remains the search.
One victim has been recovered. One passenger survived. But three families are still waiting for answers as search teams continue scouring the Tarlac River and downstream areas.
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