Missing paddler found dead in Manila Bay

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has recovered the body of a dragon boat paddler who went missing after their boat sank in Manila Bay last Saturday.

The body of Jerome Tipon, 30, was found floating in the waters near the Manila Yacht Club at around 1:20 a.m. yesterday, PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo said.

He said the PCG team immediately coordinated with the Manila Police District (MPD) and Tipon’s parents arrived at their sub-station at the Cultural Center of the Philippines to confirm the identity of the victim.

About an hour later, MPD homicide investigators, headed by Senior Police Officer 3 Milbert Balinggan, also arrived at the station for the turnover of Tipon’s body to his family.

Tipon, a gym instructor from Tondo and member of the Alab Sagwan Pilipinas team, was reported missing after their boat sank in Manila Bay early Saturday.

Twenty-one other members of the team on board the boat were rescued by the PCG and volunteers from Manila Yacht Club, the Philippine Navy and other dragon boat teams.