Officials of Barangay Apolonio Samson in Quezon City were immediately informed about the floating body which was found in the Manila area of the river.
Rey de Jesus, barangay chairman, accompanied parents of the three boys whose bodies had not been recovered to identify whether the body was that of their son.
Jaime Bartina positively identified the body as that of his son Jaime "JR" Bartina Jr. The victim joined seven young boys and swam in the Darrios River which divides barangays Masambong and Talayan in Quezon City.
The boys who drowned were identified as Marvin Pahinagan, 11, Gaspar Angeles, 13, Raymond Villamor, 12, Ervin Quialaco, 10 and Jaime Bartina Jr., 12.
Three of the boys who survived said they tried to save their friends but they were carried away by the strong current and drowned during a heavy downpour last Sunday.
Frogmen of Philippine Coast Guard recovered last Monday the bodies of Pahinagan and Angeles in a creek. – Pia Lee-Brago