Bodies recovered after missing MBCA Amejara incident

Four bodies believed to be passengers of the missing recreational motorized boat MBCA Amejara arrived at the Port of Mabila in Balut Island, Davao Occidental, on Saturday night, 24 January, while a fifth cadaver was brought in on Sunday morning.

The remains were discovered six days after the vessel was reported missing while en route from Sta. Ana Wharf in Davao City to Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), five cadavers were found between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. on Saturday in the waters off Sarangani, Davao Occidental.

Four of the bodies were initially recovered by Philippine Navy personnel and PCG Auxiliary teams, while another was later spotted by a PCG aerial unit.

The Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), aboard BRP Artemio Ricarte, retrieved the four cadavers about 63 nautical miles southwest of Balut Island after receiving a report at 9:09 a.m.

Authorities said the bodies were found near a large piece of debris believed to be the overhead roof cover of the motor banca Amejara.

Retrieval operations were conducted in coordination with the Eastern Mindanao Command, Task Force TOW-EM, the Office of Civil Defense Region XI, the PCG, and other agencies.

The recovered remains were transported to Balut Island before being brought to a funeral home in Davao City, where they will undergo post-mortem examination for identification and forensic analysis.

The MBCA Amejara was reported missing on Monday, 19 January, after departing on 17 January. Onboard were 16 individuals — 12 passengers and four crew members.

Only one crew member, Christopher Bulig, survived and was rescued from Sarangani waters on 20 January.

Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as authorities continue to coordinate with the families of the missing while awaiting official identification results for the recovered remains.