24/01/2026
𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄
Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM), in close coordination with Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC), Philippine Air Force – Tactical Operations Wing Eastern Mindanao (PAF-TOWEM), Office of Civil Defense Region XI (OCD XI), National Bureau of Investigation Region XI (NBI XI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine National Police (PNP) Davao Occidental, Davao Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), Sarangani MDRRMO, Don Marcelino MDRRMO, Jose Abad Santos MDRRMO, Sta. Maria MDRRMO, Provincial Health Office of Davao Occidental, Municipal Health Office of Sarangani and Malita MDRRMO, provides the following update regarding the ongoing Search and Rescue (SAR) operations for the missing motor banca MBCA “AMEJARA”.
As of 11:45 am today, 24 January 2026, CGDSEM confirmed the recovery of four (4) floating bodies sighted by the Salazar fishing fleet, which is owned by a member of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA). The recovering of bodies was spearheaded by the Philippine Navy Vessel PS 37 (BRP ARTEMIO RICARTE) and immediately transported to Balut Island.
Additionally, a fixed-wing aircraft Islander 251 participating in the aerial search operation reported the sighting of one (1) of the four (4) floating bodies. It was sighted beside a white debris and orange colored floating objects. SAR elements is currently underway for retrieval, subject to prevailing weather and sea conditions.
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, with surface and aerial assets continuously deployed in the identified areas. CGDSEM, together with its partner agencies, remains committed to exhausting all efforts to locate the remaining missing persons.
The Philippine Coast Guard assures the public that updates will be released as verified information becomes available.