Seven of 21 crew members of the ill-fated bulk carrier, M/V Devon Bay, are from Western Visayas and Negros Occidental.

Of the seven, one perished in the tragedy; one is among four persons missing, while five are among the 15 survivors, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 6.

“At the moment, we are coordinating with the manning agency and we are trying to reach out with the families. Kami sa OWWA, ready na tumulong sa mga pamilya ng ating seafarers,” James Mendiola, OWWA 6 director, said.

A video of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showed the arrival at the port area in Manila of the 15 survivors of the cargo vessel that sank north of Bajo de Masinloc evening on January 22, 2026.

Bajo de Masinloc is off the Province of Zambales.

The survivors were rescued by the Chinese Coast Guard and were turned over to the PCG on January 25 in Tambobong, Pangasinan.

The bodies of the two crew members from Western Visayas were retrieved.

The search and rescue operation for the missing four crew members is ongoing, as of this writing.

OWWA 6 has not named the seven persons and their specific places of origin. The agency has not determined yet whether a 31-year-old graduate from a university in Antique, who is a resident of Sultan Kudarat, is among the missing persons.

However, GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas in coordination with the family of Jan Mark Duma-an, learned that they are certain he was on board the vessel.

“Ang ka-chat niya, ang kanyang kasintahan na sabi niya, huwag ipaalam sa amin na tumagilid na ang barko dahil nagpe-prepare na daw siya. Mali daw ang paglundag niya kasi tumama siya sa bakal. Malaki ang alon, tinamaan sila ng bakal ng barko,” said Christina Duma-an Segundo, elder sister of Jan Mark.

Jan Mark is described to be a good person and a breadwinner. His family prays he is alive.

“Huwag silang tumigil hanggang makita ang apat pang nalunod, kasama na ang aking kapatid na sana ay buhay pa. Gusto namin siyang makita. Pero kung totoong wala na talaga siya, sana kahit katawan niya na lang,” Christina added.

Further, the PCG said that one of the missing persons is Captain Elimar Jucal of San Enrique, Negros Occidental.

According to Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG commandant, Jucal did his job in securing the safety of his crew.

“Hindi niya po pinabayaan ang kanyang mga kasamahan. Hindi po siya unang umalis ng barko. Isang inspirasyon sa bawat marino na makita ang iyong leader, ang inyong kapitan ay hindi nauunang tumakas sa sakuna. We should be proud as Filipinos,” Gavan emphasized.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to get a statement from Jucal’s family, especially his mother in San Enrique, but she refused an interview.