The Philippine Coast Guard Southeastern Mindanao (CGSEM) has released on Friday the names of passengers and crew aboard the motorbanca MBCA Amejara, which tragically sank on January 18, 2026.
The disaster left one confirmed survivor and six recovered bodies, while nine people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.
According to the Coast Guard, the passengers listed on the official manifest included Porferio Lanorlas Sr., John Julius Alcazar, Steven Ang Tan, Hector Emberga, Earlan Uyking, Anthony Banzali, Mark Levi Apayo Lao, Herwin Tan, and Ace Cortez.
Additional passengers who were not on the manifest were identified as Raymark Napuli and Florine “Rogelio” Gomez.
The crew consisted of Boat Captain Patrocinio F. Genita III, Homer Bordado Bolasa, Christian Genita II, and Christopher Tecson Bulig, the latter being the sole survivor rescued from the vessel.
Of the six bodies recovered, four have been identified as passengers John Julius Alcazar, Porferio Lanorlas Jr., Ranil Florino, and Hector A. Emberga, while two remain unidentified.
The Coast Guard continues to search for the remaining missing passengers and has vowed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
CGDSEM said the families of the victims have been notified, and authorities have appealed to the public for any information that could aid in the ongoing search and identification efforts.
Day 12 of SAR
Search and rescue operations for the sunken MBCA Amejara entered its 12th day on Friday, January 30, 2026, as authorities continue to comb the waters and coastlines in Sarangani Province and surrounding areas.
“We are on our 12th day of sustained search and rescue operations between the different interagencies. On the national level, the coast guard, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force,” said Commodore Philipps Y. Soria, commander of CGDSEM.
During the press briefing. CGDSEM shared a presentation of the SAR efforts:
The lone survivor, crew member Bulig, was rescued on January 20 off Balut Island by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and maritime police, approximately 14.18 nautical miles southeast of the island in Sarangani, Davao Occidental.
Subsequent days saw several recoveries of victims and debris linked to the tragedy.
On January 24, four bodies, along with life jackets and a life ring, were recovered 60.2 nautical miles south of Maguling Point, Maitum.
The following day, an additional cadaver was spotted by the Coast Guard’s Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) 3010 unit and later recovered 43.06 nautical miles southwest of Buca Point, Maasim.
On January 26, MCS 3010 personnel also spotted a life ring at sea, which upon visual inspection was confirmed to have come from the Amejara.
The BRP Panglao later recovered a life jacket marked with the vessel’s name on January 28, approximately 66.02 nautical miles south-southwest of Maguling Point, Maitum.
Search efforts continued along the coastline, and on January 29, a life jacket bearing the Amejara markings washed ashore along the Poblacion and Katubao areas of Kiamba, Sarangani Province.
Indonesian government permits overflight SAR
Soria said that early Friday morning, the Philippine Navy flew their aircraft and they are permitted to operate along Sectors 1 and 2 of the Indonesian area of responsibility (AOR).”
“Meron na tayong flight clearance coming from the Indonesian government for overflight search and rescue operations. Pinayagan ang ating navy at air force to conduct an over flight search and rescue operations. Hanggang bukas may clearance na rin tayo. Tuloy tuloy ang ating Philippine Navy aircraft sa paghahanap ng ating mga nawawala pang mga kababayan,” he said.
