The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) has confirmed that five bodies believed to be from the recreational motorbanca “Amejara,” which capsized in the Davao Gulf on January 18, 2026, have been recovered.
CGDSEM Commander, Commodore Philipps Soria, said the bodies were recovered in the waters off Sarangani, Davao Occidental on the sixth day of the search operation.
However, authorities are still verifying the identities of those found.
Sixteen passengers and crew members went missing in the incident. A crew member who survived the incident was rescued on January 20.
“Nagkaroon po tayo ng report sa PCG Vessel isa sa mga may ari ng mangingisda na si Rear Admiral Dominic Salazar may ari po siya ng Salazar fishing meron nga pong nakita na bagkay at na-recover yong kanilang maliliit na mga bangka at dinala sa kanilang mother vessel. Kaninang 8:59 naibato ito sa atin kasi naibanggit agad sa Coast Guard ang balitang ito,” Soria said on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
“Unconfirmed pa ang personalities ng apat na bangkay sa SAR area ngayon din pong umaga around 11:30 am nai-relay po ng ating mga piloto habang lumilipad na may nakitang isa pang floating cadaver kasama ang floating debris na white malapit sa SAR area,” Soria added.
CGDSEM also confirmed that debris and orange floating objects were sighted in the area where the bodies were found.
However, authorities did not give details whether these were life vests or if the bodies recovered were wearing them.
Earlier, photos showing seven individuals wearing life vests and floating near white debris circulated on social media.
Soria said 10 individuals remain missing, as of this writing.
“Tuloy tuloy po ang search and rescue operations sa pangunguna ng Philippine Coast Guard sa pangunguna ng Comandante siya po talaga ang nakatutok po rito at binibigyan tayo ng instructions at ang ating partner agencies na nakakatulong sa ating search and rescue operations. Ihahatid ang mga bangkay sa Balut Island, Davao Occidental saka ililipad sa Davao City,” Soria added.
