Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769313454020618253069_913316758019378_1339046912574843547_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Search operations continue for passengers and crew of MBCA Amejara, M/V Devon Bay — Navy"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao/Facebook</em></span></span></span>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— The Philippine Navy is continuing search operations for missing passengers and crew of a motorized banca that sank in waters off Sarangani Province and of a cargo vessel that capsized off Pangasinan province. </div><p>Authorities reported that the motorbanca Amejara capsized January 18 in Sarangani after it encountered strong winds and large waves while en route to Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental, for a fishing trip.</p><p>As of January 24, the Navy said four bodies have been recovered and turned over to BRP Artemio Ricarte for proper transportation, disposition, and coordination with concerned authorities for their identification.</p><p>The recovery followed a report the Ricarte received on Saturday morning that four bodies had been seen floating at sea roughly 63 nautical miles southwest of Balut Island.</p><p>Upon reaching the area, Navy personnel deployed a rubber boat and recovered the cadavers near a large piece of debris believed to be the overhead roof cover of the Amejara.</p><p>The four bodies were brought aboard the Ricarte for transport to Balut Island. and From there, the bodies will be airlifted to Davao City for proper identification and disposition in coordination with concerned authorities.</p><p>Earlier reports citing the Philippine Coast Guard and Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao said <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/24/5-bodies-from-mbca-amejara-found-6-days-after-it-went-missing-2147">five bodies had already been recovered</a>.</p><p>The navy said Philippine vessels are still continuously conducting search and rescue operations covering the waters of Sarangani and extending towards the Philippine–Indonesia border areas.</p><div><br/></div><p>Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao has also deployed an aircraft to conduct maritime air surveillance over the Philippine–Indonesia maritime borders to locate possible survivors.</p><p>In a separate incident, the Singaporean-flagged bulk carrier  M/V Devon Bay, also capsized on January 23, approximately 141 nautical miles west of Pangasinan.</p><p>The search and rescue operations for the four still missing crew continue in the area, Navy said.</p><p>The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) previously confirmed 17 of the 21 all-Filipino crew of the distressed cargo vessel M/V Devon Bay were rescued by a passing <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/24/pcg-thanks-china-coast-guard-for-rescuing-17-filipino-sailors-in-distress-1352">China Coast Guard</a> ship off Pangasinan.<strong> </strong></p><p>It said it is still verifying the report that two of the 17 rescued members had died.</p><div><strong>— with reports from Hernel Tocmo, Allison Co and Carlos Trazo, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><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">Search continues for missing crew of M/V Devon Bay off Pangasinan</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hYGW_P95jJc?si=Ajn_fZF-VmD61Fg5" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Philippine Navy is continuing search operations for missing passengers and crew of a motorized banca that sank in waters off Sarangani Province and of a cargo vessel that capsized off Pangasinan province.</p>

The Philippine Navy is continuing search operations for missing passengers and crew of a motorized banca that sank in waters off Sarangani Province and of a cargo vessel that capsized off Pangasinan province.

Search operations continue for passengers and crew of MBCA Amejara, M/V Devon Bay — Navy

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Search operations continue for passengers and crew of MBCA Amejara, M/V Devon Bay — Navy

Marilyn Cahatol,

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 25, 2026 12:26 PM PHT

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Updated January 25, 2026 12:47 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Navy

M/V Devon Bay

Amejara

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