Authorities have recovered four bodies amid ongoing search and rescue (SAR) operations for the missing motor banca MBCA Amejara off the waters of Davao Occidental, the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) confirmed on Saturday.
In a situation update, CGDSEM said the bodies were sighted floating at around 11:45 a.m. by the Salazar fishing fleet, owned by a member of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA). The remains were found approximately 63 nautical miles southwest of Balut Island.
The recovery was led by the Philippine Navy vessel PS-37, BRP Artemio Ricarte, which transported the remains to Balut Island for proper handling and identification.
CGDSEM said SAR operations are being conducted in close coordination with several government agencies, including the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC), Philippine Air Force–Tactical Operations Wing Eastern Mindanao (PAF-TOWEM), Office of Civil Defense Region 11 (OCD 11), National Bureau of Investigation Region 11 (NBI 11), Department of Social Welfare and Development 11 (DSWD 11), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Davao Occidental.
Also assisting in the response are the Davao Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC); the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMOs) of Sarangani, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Santa Maria, and Malita; as well as the Provincial Health Office of Davao Occidental and the Municipal Health Office of Sarangani.
Earlier, at around 1:30 p.m., Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Commodore Marfenio Tan, owner of the Salazar fishing fleet, said in a radio interview that based on initial information from the Philippine Navy, seven bodies had reportedly been found at different times earlier that morning. He said four of the bodies were discovered by fishermen, with two reportedly still entangled in parts of a motorized boat, while three others were allegedly found about 75 nautical miles from Maasim, Sarangani Province.
However, later in the afternoon, CGDSEM issued an official statement clarifying that only four bodies had been found and retrieved as of Saturday.
Meanwhile, CGDSEM reported that a fixed-wing aircraft, Islander 251, participating in the aerial search, also sighted one of the four floating bodies, along with white debris and orange-colored floating objects in the area.
Search and rescue operations continue for the remaining missing individuals, with both surface and aerial assets deployed across identified search zones.
CGDSEM reiterated its commitment, together with partner agencies, to exhaust all efforts to locate the remaining missing persons. The Philippine Coast Guard assured the public that further updates will be released as verified information becomes available.
