Teen feared dead in Palawan crocodile attack

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – A 15-year-old boy was reported missing and feared dead after he was attacked by a crocodile in Balabac, Palawan on Sunday.

Romilo Miranda, 15, reportedly went to dive and fish with his uncle and two cousins in Sitio Bual, Barangay Indalawan when the crocodile attacked him at around 9:05 a.m., according to Lt. Col. Socrates Faltado, spokesman for the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) police.

One of Miranda’s cousins told police he saw the crocodile bite the victim in the nape and drag him toward the deeper portion of the water.

Miranda’s uncle Pablo Sarmiento said they tried to help the boy, but they were scared of the crocodile.

A search and rescue operation was launched by a joint team of the Philippine Coast Guard, maritime police and municipal government.

Last month, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a crocodile in Barangay Salang, also in Balabac town.

A fisherman found the boy’s head and leg in the mangroves a day after the attack.