Soldier’s body recovered in Mindoro after river swept him away during operation

The body of a Philippine Army soldier who was swept away by strong currents during a military operation has been found in a river in Baco, Occidental Mindoro.

Private Mark Leomar Esbieto, 28, was discovered by barangay residents collecting stones along the Mangangan River in Baco, Occidental Mindoro province on Wednesday morning, August 20, 2025.

The unmarried soldier, from Purok 6 in Rizal town, had been missing since Sunday evening when he and three colleagues were crossing the river as part of a military operation following an armed encounter with NPA members in the area.

While three soldiers were successfully rescued from the rushing waters, Private Esbieto was swept downstream and could not be saved.

Barangay officials said stone collectors in Sitio Lucban, Barangay Mangangan 2, spotted the body and immediately alerted Barangay Captain James Mark Enriquez, who contacted the Baco Municipal Police Station.

Police officers and troops from the 76th Infantry Battalion quickly responded to the scene and confirmed the victim’s identity.

The soldier’s remains have been taken to Funeraria Baco as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the military operation and the tragic river crossing.