The Philippine Navy continues its search and rescue operations for the missing passengers and crew of the MBCA Amejara, a motorbanca that sank in the waters of Sarangani, and the cargo vessel M/V Devon Bay that capsized in Pangasinan.
According to the report, the MBCA Amejara sank on January 18 after encountering strong winds and large waves while en route to Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental for a fishing trip. As of January 24, four bodies have been recovered and brought to the BRP Artemio Ricarte for proper transportation, disposition, and identification with authorities.
Upon receiving the report, the Navy immediately deployed a rubber boat and recovered the bodies near a large debris believed to be part of the roof of the Amejara. The bodies were brought to Balut Island before being airlifted to Davao City for proper identification and coordination with relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, the Singaporean-flagged bulk carrier M/V Devon Bay capsized on January 23, about 141 nautical miles west of Pangasinan. Search and rescue operations are continuing for four more missing crew members in the area, the Navy said. The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that 17 of the 21 crew members of the M/V Devon Bay were rescued, but is still investigating reports that two of them died.
In addition, the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao also dispatched an aircraft to conduct maritime air surveillance along the Philippine–Indonesia border to determine if there are any possible survivors. The Navy continues to monitor and conduct operations in Sarangani and adjacent waters to ensure the safety of the missing.
