7 bodies recovered from sunken Davao boat

DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Southeastern Mindanao confirmed on Saturday, 24 January, that at least seven bodies believed to be part of the 15-person crew of the sunken MBCA Amejara have been recovered along Sarangani’s shores.

Search teams said the bodies were wearing life vests and were found among debris identified as coming from the missing motorbanca, which vanished earlier this week in the Davao Gulf.

PCG Southeastern Mindanao district commander Commodore Philipps Soria said five of the bodies were first spotted Saturday morning during combined surface and aerial patrols.

“Four bodies were found in one area, while another was seen in a separate sector,” Soria said. By 2 p.m., the count had risen to seven, with retrieval and identification still underway along the Sarangani coastline.

A Philippine Navy vessel has been deployed to help recover the victims and search nearby waters for those still missing.

Meanwhile, national and local authorities are working to confirm the identities of the recovered bodies and notify their families. Officials say the operation has shifted from search-and-rescue to search-and-recovery, though they have not completely ruled out the chance of additional survivors.

The Amejara, a rented recreational boat carrying tourists and crew for a fishing and leisure trip, left Sta. Ana Wharf in Davao City around 8 p.m. on 17 January, bound for Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental. It was expected to return or make contact by 19 January but never did, prompting relatives to alert the PCG.

Authorities believe the vessel capsized in rough seas off Davao Occidental and Sarangani, battered by strong amihan winds and large waves.

One crew member, Christopher Bulig, survived after days adrift and gave an emotional account of the boat being tossed by bad weather before overturning, throwing passengers into the dark, choppy waters. His testimony helped rescuers refine the search grid and confirmed the vessel had not reached its destination.

In response to the tragedy, the PCG has expanded its search area, deployed additional vessels and aircraft, and launched an internal probe into whether safety and clearance protocols were properly followed.

Questions have been raised about the Amejara’s passenger manifest and its authorization to sail. Eight Coast Guard personnel from the Sta. Ana Substation have been relieved from duty pending the investigation, as authorities look into possible administrative lapses that may have worsened the loss of life.