Senior Citizen Drowns at Pacuan River Amid Tropical Depression Verbena

A senior citizen lost his life after slipping and drowning at the Pacuan River spillway in Sitio Proper, Barangay Pacuan, La Libertad, Negros Oriental, on Monday evening. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. amid adverse weather caused by Tropical Depression Verbena.

According to reports, the victim, believed to be in his early 60s and suspected to have been intoxicated, attempted to cross the flood-affected spillway. He slipped at the edge and was swept away by the strong current. Locals rushed to assist but were unable to rescue him.

Barangay rescue teams continued the search the following morning in hopes of locating the missing man. His daughter, Jonalyn Binondo Canoy, recounted via a live social media broadcast that her father was last seen collecting small debris from trees near the spillway before being overtaken by the water.

The search and recovery operation is ongoing as authorities work to confirm whether the fatality was directly linked to the effects of Tropical Depression Verbena. At the time of the incident, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had issued a tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 for Negros Oriental.

Local officials continue to urge residents to exercise caution amid unpredictable weather and potential flooding in the region.