Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Hernel Tocmo

<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/17701718510941768886899463image_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">One survivor has been rescued so far on Tuesday morning, January 20, 2026, while several passengers and other crew members of MBCA Amejara are still missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Facebook/Philippine Coast Guard <br/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>DAVAO CITY — The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) ended its search and rescue operations for the sunken MBCA Amejara on Tuesday, February 3, and has shifted to retrieval efforts for the 9 individuals who remain missing following the vessel’s sinking off Davao Oriental.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/28/4-of-6-cadavers-from-sunken-mbca-amejara-identified-1051">4 of 6 cadavers from sunken MBCA Amejara identified; search continues for 9 missing</a></div><p>Only one person was rescued, and six cadavers were recovered during the 16 days of search and rescue operations.</p><p>The search area was expanded to waters near Basilan and to the area of responsibility of Indonesia as part of efforts to locate the missing individuals.</p><p>CGDSEM commander Commodore Philipps Soria said that before transitioning to search and retrieval operations, authorities conducted a careful evaluation of the available information and prevailing operational conditions, determining that the probability of survival is no longer feasible.</p><p>“We recognize the emotional and psychological toll this incident has taken, and we want to assure you that we will continue our efforts to locate and recover the remains of the passengers and crew, ensuring the utmost respect and dignity,” he said during a media briefing in Davao City.</p><p>Soria earlier said that search efforts will continue but will no longer be as urgent and comprehensive as when search and rescue operations were initially activated.</p><p>The Coast Guard may also temporarily suspend search operations if the latest tropical depression east of Mindanao affects the search area.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/2/4/basyang-may-develop-into-tropical-storm-wind-signal-1-in-surigao-del-sur-0707">Basyang may develop into tropical storm; wind signal 1 in Surigao del Sur</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Dr. Charina Carmencita Labrador, Medico-Legal Officer II of the National Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office, said that of the six recovered cadavers, two remain unidentified and have been placed in a freezer, while another has been temporarily buried at the Ma-a Public Cemetery.</p><p>“We are awaiting for a DNA analysis result to conclude the identification of the human beings,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VUkxvVdZ4UY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3durUFbEcxA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao determined that the probability of survival was no longer feasible.</p>

The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao determined that the probability of survival was no longer feasible.

'Survival no longer feasible': Coast Guard now on retrieval mode for sunken MBCA Amejara

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'Survival no longer feasible': Coast Guard now on retrieval mode for sunken MBCA Amejara

Hernel Tocmo

Published February 04, 2026 10:26 AM PHT

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Coast Guard

search and retrieval

missing

MBCA Amejara

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