By Ivy Tejano
SEARCH continues for a missing vessel in Mindanao. (PCG)
DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao confirmed on Saturday, Jan. 24, that five bodies have been sighted and recovered in Philippine waters following the recent sinking of motor banca MBCA Amejara.
CGDSEM commander Commodore Philipps Soria said the recoveries marked a significant development on the sixth day of the ongoing search-and-rescue operations conducted in coordination with partner agencies.
Soria said five bodies have been retrieved with one survivor, Christopher Bulig, who was rescued on the second day of the operations. No bodies were found from the third to the fifth day of the search.
Soria said that four bodies were located in Sector 3 of the designated search area after a fishing vessel in the Sarangani area reported the sighting to authorities.
The Coast Guard has intensified search and recovery efforts, deploying additional assets, including the BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37).
Four bodies were retrieved and transported to Balut Island and airlifted to Davao City.
The Coast Guard surveillance aircraft PCG 251 spotted a fifth floating body in Sector 2. The body was observed entangled in white floating debris and surrounded by orange objects believed to be life vests or personal belongings of the victims.
Soria said the identities of the five bodies have yet to be confirmed and remain officially unverified. He added that debris found in the area suggests some of the victims may have been wearing life vests at the time of the incident.
The first four bodies were found approximately 68 nautical miles southwest of Sarangani, while the fifth was located between Sectors 2 and 3, indicating continued drifting caused by strong winds and sea conditions.
Soria said search and rescue operations remain ongoing and assured the public that efforts will continue despite challenging conditions, as authorities still hope to locate possible survivors.
Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, who said he personally knows several of the passengers aboard the vessel, has been closely coordinating SAR efforts since Tuesday, following instructions from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
