DAVAO CITY (January 24) — Four bodies believed to be from the sunken recreational vessel MBCA Amejara were found floating at sea on Thursday morning, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
In a report aired by GMA Regional Network, Coast Guard Southern Mindanao Commander Commodore Philips Soria confirmed the recovery but said authorities are not yet in a position to identify the victims, pending confirmation by their families.
Commodore Soria said the bodies were initially sighted by a search and rescue team operating in the Sarangani Sea, which immediately coordinated with the Coast Guard for retrieval.
“Proper identification protocols will be followed. We will wait for confirmation from the families,” Soria said.
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, with Coast Guard vessels continuing surface patrols and aerial monitoring as the search area expands.
At the time of the incident, sea conditions in parts of the Davao Gulf and Sarangani Sea were reported to be rough, with moderate to strong winds and higher-than-normal waves, conditions commonly experienced during this period. Authorities have previously advised small and recreational vessels to exercise caution due to unsettled weather and strong currents, which may affect vessel stability.
The MBCA Amejara departed from Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City at around 8:00 p.m. on January 17, en route to Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. The vessel was carrying 16 people.
Earlier, one person was rescued alive, while the others were reported missing after the vessel sank. The exact cause of the incident has yet to be determined, as authorities focus on rescue operations before proceeding with a full investigation.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
