Search for missing MBCA Amejara passengers reaches Indonesian waters

The Philippine Navy on Saturday said it has expanded to Indonesian waters its search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) operations for the nine remaining missing passengers of ill-fated vessel MBCA Amejara.

This developed after the Philippines secured approval from the Indonesian government to expand the search of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), an operating unit of the Philippine Navy.

On Friday, January 30, the NFEM sent a Beechcraft King Air C90 (NV392) to perform visual search operations beyond the Philippines–Indonesia common maritime border, aiming to expand search coverage in areas where the missing passengers may have drifted.

Meanwhile, the BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37) continued its surface patrols and visual searches within the territorial waters of Sarangani, reaching 118 nautical miles southwest off Palimban Point, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, and the Philippines-Indonesia International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

According to the NFEM, the BRP Artemio Ricarte continues to support the search while maintaining maritime security within its area of responsibility amid challenging weather and sea conditions.

The NFEM operation is being conducted in coordination with the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC), Office of Civil Defense Region XI (OCD XI), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Air Force (PAF), and Indonesian counterparts.

"This interagency and international collaboration is intended to maximize search coverage and enhance operational effectiveness, particularly in areas beyond the international maritime boundary," the NFEM said in a statement Saturday.

Five cadavers believed to be from the ill-fated vessel arrived in a funeral home in Davao City after retrieval from the waters off Sarangani, Davao Occidental.

Four of the bodies were brought to the Port of Mabila in Balut Island in Sarangani, Davao Occidental at 10 p.m. on January 24, while the fifth cadaver arrived the following day.

With 15 passengers, recreational dive boat MBCA Amejara went missing while navigating the waters of the Davao Gulf on Monday, January 19. — VDV, GMA Integrated News