Coast Guard Concludes Search and Rescue for Missing MBCA Amejara, Shifts Focus to Retrieval Operations
The Philippine Coast Guard–Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (PCG-CGDSEM) has officially announced a significant transition in the ongoing operations for the missing vessel MBCA Amejara. After 16 consecutive days of intensive search efforts, the mission has shifted from search and rescue (SAR) to search and retrieval, citing the improbability of human survival following the vessel's disappearance in the waters off the Davao Gulf.
Exhaustive Search Efforts Yield Limited Results
Since the MBCA Amejara was reported missing on January 19, 2026, authorities have conducted comprehensive surveys, shoreline searches, and aerial operations across the Davao Region, extending even into the Indonesian Area of Responsibility. Despite these exhaustive efforts, only one survivor has been located, while six bodies have been recovered. Additionally, floating debris including line jackets, life jackets, and other items marked with Amejara identification have been found.
CGDSEM Commander Commodore Philip Soria emphasized during a special press conference at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Sasa, Davao City that after careful evaluation of all available information and operational conditions, the probability of survival is no longer feasible. Consequently, search and rescue operations have been formally concluded, with efforts now focusing on locating and recovering the remains of passengers and crew in a manner that upholds respect and dignity.
Weather Disturbance Threatens to Temporarily Suspend Operations
Commodore Soria noted that search and retrieval operations may face temporary suspension due to a low pressure area (LPA) affecting Mindanao's coastal waters. This weather system, which includes all sectors where SAR operations have been conducted since January 19, has intensified into a tropical depression named "Basyang." The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Basyang is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning, February 4.
"We are expecting a weather disturbance affecting our search and retrieval area. Although we are transitioning to search and retrieval operations, we may temporarily suspend them because of the upcoming weather disturbance, so that we will not risk our SAR efforts and personnel," Soria explained.
Operational Adjustments and Focus on Sector 7
With the shift to search and retrieval, operational approaches have also changed. Efforts will no longer be as extensive or urgent as during the rescue phase. Operations are now concentrated on Sector 7, covering the southwestern waters of Mindanao near the Indonesian maritime boundary. This focus is based on prevailing wind and current patterns that may have carried debris or remains to this specific area.
Investigations into Liability and Regulatory Compliance
Authorities are pursuing investigations to determine administrative and criminal liability surrounding the incident. While the MBCA Amejara held a valid Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) for travel between Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), it did not secure a special permit or clearance for its voyage on the day it departed.
Commodore Soria clarified that accountability would be limited to those directly involved, including the ship owner, crew, and personnel on duty at the time of departure. He emphasized that Coast Guard personnel are not immune from scrutiny, stating that if investigators find negligence or errors among those on duty that day, they will also face administrative liability and sanctions.
Passenger Manifest Discrepancies and Recovery Details
According to Coast Guard reports, the vessel's trip report submitted around 4 p.m. on January 17 was not approved. Authorities were later surprised to discover that the vessel still departed at approximately 8 p.m. the same day. Of the 16 individuals onboard, only nine passengers were listed in the official manifest, while three additional passengers were not reflected in the records. The vessel was manned by four crew members, including the boat captain.
Six bodies were recovered between January 24 and 25, with four positively identified. Two bodies remain unidentified, while nine individuals, including the vessel's owner, are still missing. On January 28, the Philippine Consulate General in Manado, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta and the Department of Foreign Affairs–Office of Intelligence and Security Services, approved overflight clearance to expand SAR operations into nearby international waters.
International Coordination and Geographic Challenges
As of February 3, Indonesian authorities have yet to formally disclose information related to materials possibly linked to Amejara. The expansion of operations followed a report from the Indonesian Maritime Agency regarding a possible discovery connected to the capsized vessel. This report is still undergoing verification to determine whether the sighting involved human remains or just floating debris.
The PCG explained that the Davao Gulf's geographic characteristics present significant challenges for search operations. As a vast and largely open body of water, the gulf allows winds and sea currents to carry floating debris and bodies far from their point of origin. Unlike enclosed bays, the gulf opens southward toward the Celebes Sea, exposing it to stronger currents that can push objects across wide distances over time.
Most bodies linked to the Amejara incident were recovered in waters between Maguling Point in Maitum, Sarangani, and the southwestern waters off Kiamba, Sarangani. These areas lie along the southern stretch of the gulf and, despite their distance from shore, remain within Philippine maritime responsibility. This underscores how the gulf's open and expansive nature plays a significant role in the movement of remains and debris, complicating recovery efforts.
