Search for Missing Amejara Passengers Enters 11th Day with Expanded Operations
The search-and-rescue (SAR) operations for the missing passengers of the capsized recreational motor banca MBCA Amejara have now entered their eleventh day, with efforts intensifying and expanding into international waters. The Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) has shifted its focus to Sector 5, approximately 72 nautical miles southwest of Palimban Point in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, as part of the ongoing maritime rescue mission.
Possible Findings from Indonesian Authorities Under Verification
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is currently verifying information relayed by the Indonesian Maritime Agency regarding a possible discovery that may be linked to the ill-fated Amejara. During a special press conference held on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Sasa, Davao City, CGDSEM Commander Commodore Philipps Soria disclosed that two items have been recovered on the Indonesian side.
"Meron nga dalawa na na-recover on the side of Indonesia. I-confirm pa namin if it is a body or a debris," Soria stated, emphasizing that verification is still ongoing and authorities have yet to confirm whether the findings involve human remains or debris from the missing vessel.
Enhanced Search Efforts with International Coordination
To support the intensified search operations, the Philippine Consulate General in Manado, through the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta and the Department of Foreign Affairs–Office of Intelligence and Security Services, approved an overflight clearance request on January 28. This clearance enables Philippine authorities to conduct aerial search operations within nearby international maritime areas, facilitating a broader coverage of the search zone.
On the eleventh day of operations, the search has expanded to Sector 7, an operational patrol area near the waters off southwestern Mindanao and close to Indonesia, but still within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Soria clarified that the Coast Guard has not shifted to retrieval operations, maintaining the search-and-rescue protocol due to differences in operational concepts.
Current Status of Passengers and Ongoing Efforts
The Amejara was carrying 16 passengers and crew, initially reported as 15, many of whom were prominent figures in the business sector, professionals, and elite individuals. To date, only one survivor has been found: crew member Christopher Bulig, who was discovered alive on January 20, drifting between the municipal waters of Barangay Laker in Sarangani town and Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
Five bodies were recovered floating in the waters off Sarangani province on January 24, followed by a sixth on January 25. Four of the six fatalities have been positively identified by their families, while nine individuals remain missing. Authorities have assured that search operations will continue, with ongoing coordination with Indonesian counterparts to verify the latest findings and expand coverage in adjacent maritime areas.
Key Points:
- Search operations have expanded to Sector 7 near Indonesian waters.
- Verification of possible findings from Indonesia is underway.
- Overflight clearance allows aerial searches in international areas.
- Nine passengers remain missing as of January 30, 2026.
