Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Detail from video released by the Chinese Embassy in Manila

Article (news)

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard extended its gratitude to the China Coast Guard for the rescue of 17 Filipino crew members from a cargo ship that capsized last Thursday, January 22, near Scarborough Shoal — an area often marked by violent confrontations between the Philippines and China. Four crew members however remain missing.Manila also uses Panatag Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc to refer to Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground in the West Philippine Sea.“The Philippine Coast Guard really appreciates ‘yung lahat po ng parties including po yung passing China Coast Guard sa pag-render po ng assistance sa ating mga kababayan na crew po nitong M/V Devon Bay….” PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Guirao-Cayabyab said.“The China Coast Guard Vessel was 36 nautical miles away from the distressed vessel, meron naman po tayong moral obligation, it is mentioned in the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) that every state has a moral obligation to conduct rescue operations regardless of its nationality or even jurisdiction.”According to the PCG, M/V Devon Bay was en route to Yangjiang, China from Guatalac, Zamboanga del Sur when it sent a distress call, prompting the agency to issue radio broadcasts to nearby vessels.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2718362351850584%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div>The ship was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/23/china-rescues-filipinos-after-cargo-ship-capsizes-embassy-1304">last monitored 141 nautical miles west of Sabangan Point in Agno Bay, Pangasinan.</a> “As of 10:30 am, we received a report that the passing China Coast Guard Vessel, which is very near from the reported incident conducted rescue,” Cayabyab said.The Chinese Embassy in Manila later reported that two of the 17 rescued crew members had died.“For the two casualties we are still verifying that inforation but at present, four po ang ating reported missing and 17 rescued,&quot; Cayabyab said.The PCG has continued search and rescue operations in the area, where it has deployed a ship and aircraft.During aerial surveillance, authorities <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/23/search-continues-for-missing-crew-of-m-v-devon-bay-off-pangasinan-2254">observed an overturned life raft and traces of oil near the incident site</a>, sparking concerns over a possible oil spill. M/V Devon Bay was initially reported to be transporting iron ore, but the PCG said it is verifying information that the cargo was actually nickel.The PCG continues its coordination with the Hong Kong Rescue Coordinating Center as search and rescue efforts continue and authorities await the formal turnover of the rescued Filipino crew members.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, M/V Devon Bay was en route to Yangjiang, China from Guatalac, Zamboanga del Sur when it sent a distress call, prompting the agency to issue radio broadcasts to nearby vessels.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, M/V Devon Bay was en route to Yangjiang, China from Guatalac, Zamboanga del Sur when it sent a distress call, prompting the agency to issue radio broadcasts to nearby vessels.

PCG thanks China Coast Guard for rescuing 17 Filipino sailors in distress

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PCG thanks China Coast Guard for rescuing 17 Filipino sailors in distress

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 24, 2026 01:52 PM PHT

Read More:

MV Devon Bay

Scarborough Shoal

Panatag Shoal

Bajo de Masinloc

Philippine Coast Guard

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