Man Drowns in Pasig River After Allegedly Chased by Other Men
A man reportedly being chased by several other men died after drowning in the Pasig River, authorities confirmed in Binondo, Manila.
On Monday night (January 5, 2026), the lifeless body was discovered floating in the Pasig River near Barangay 286 shortly after eight in the evening. Residents became alarmed after noticing a body drifting in the dark waters, prompting them to quickly inform barangay officials.
Local authorities then coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard and the police to recover the victim. Because the area was poorly lit and the river’s current was strong, it took more than an hour before rescuers were able to fully retrieve the body near a pumping station.
After the recovery, police investigators and homicide personnel arrived to conduct an initial examination and gather information about what happened.
Barangay officials said the victim was not a resident of the area, but his face was familiar to them. They recalled that he had been previously turned over to the barangay by the police late last year in connection with a cellphone theft incident.
In a previous post, a
tourism officer dies while trying to save drowning swimmer in Batangas
During the chase, one of their companions was caught, while the victim and another man jumped into the river in an attempt to escape. The victim later drowned, while the other man managed to survive.
Authorities said some nearby CCTV cameras that could have helped confirm the events were not working at the time. The barangay also questioned why no immediate call for help was made when the victim was seen struggling in the water.
The women explained that they panicked and were unsure of what to do in that moment.
Police are continuing their backtracking efforts to trace the victim’s movements before the
incident
. They are also searching for the other man who jumped into the river to clarify the true circumstances behind the tragedy.