A 17-year-old student died after being bitten by a banakon, or king cobra, inside their family store in Purok Malinawon 3, Bato-Bato, San Isidro, Davao Oriental, on the morning of Sept. 20, 2026.
The victim was identified as Aiko Pantaleon, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration student at the Davao Oriental State University San Isidro campus.
According to her boyfriend, Roy Jimenes, in an interview with Brigada Mati, Pantaleon was sweeping their yard before entering their family store after a neighbor came to buy shampoo.
Jimenes said Pantaleon did not notice that a large banakon was inside the store. The snake then bit her on the knee.
He said he initially thought Pantaleon had simply seen a snake when she screamed. However, when she came out of the store, she was already holding her knee after being bitten.
Pantaleon was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. Several hours later, however, she died after experiencing difficulty breathing.
Her mother, Mary Jane Pantaleon, expressed grief over the incident. She said the family was not at home when the incident happened and described the loss of her daughter as painful to accept.
Neighbors later searched for and killed the banakon after the incident.
The family has also appealed for assistance from people willing to help cover the cost of Pantaleon’s coffin and other financial needs as they prepare for her final resting place.
