A dozen passengers and three crew members of a missing motorbanca are now being searched by authorities after a recreational motorized boat capsized in the Davao Gulf on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard reported Wednesday.

As of 21 January, the PCG said its Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) is in close coordination with the Coast Guard District Southern Mindanao (CGDSM), Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 11 of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and fisherfolk communities, as it continues intensified search and rescue (SAR) operations for the missing passengers and crew members of ‘MBCA Amejara.’

The SAR team is actively engaged in coordinated maritime and aerial search efforts across Southeastern Mindanao, utilizing 24 floating assets and one aircraft.

One of the four crew members was rescued at around 11 a.m. Tuesday in the vicinity waters off Barangay Laker, Sarangani.

There was a total of 16 individuals on board MBCA Amejara at the time the maritime incident occurred.

“The PCG, along with its partner agencies, remains fully committed to locating the remaining missing individuals and ensuring maritime safety,” it said.

MBCA Amejara, a recreational motorized banca, went missing while en route from Sta. Ana, Davao City, to Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental.

The motorbanca left at 8 p.m. on 17 January and was expected to arrive at its destination on 19 January.

The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao has already issued a Notice to Mariners advising all ships and fisherfolk transiting within the Davao Gulf to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly in the waters of Malita, Sta. Maria and Don Marcelino, as well as the vicinity waters of Balut Island, Sarangani Island, Jose Abad Santos, North Jose Abad Santos and Governor Generoso.