search and rescue operations

• Coast Guard officer, 7 others relieved over capsized vessel 

THE COMMANDER of the Coast Guard Sta. Ana Substation and seven personnel were directed to step down on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, as the investigation deepened into the sinking of the MBCA Amejara and its still missing 15 crew members and passengers.

Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) deputy commander Macy A. Gabion announced the relief orders, stating that the personnel will be reassigned to the CGDSEM headquarters in Sasa pending the results of the probe.

“This is the verbal instruction of the district commander,” Gabion said on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Sta. Ana Port in Davao City. 

When asked about how motorbanca traveled from Sta. Ana Wharf to Governor Generoso, she replied: “This incident is strictly under investigation, and we cannot divulge specific details until the process is complete.”

She emphasized that while technical issues and passenger manifestos are critical to the inquiry, the command’s primary focus remains on the lives of the 15 individuals still missing at sea.

Regulatory scrutiny

The investigation is looking into the seaworthiness of the wooden vessel and whether it had a valid “permit to sail” given the rough sea conditions caused by Typhoon Ada.

When asked about the use of wooden boats on that route, Gabion clarified that while the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has the authority over wooden vessels, certifications are issued based on size and the ability to withstand currents.

“MARINA inspects the boat and determines passenger capacity and routes before issuing a certificate of public convenience,” Gabion said. “The Coast Guard’s role is to conduct a pre-departure inspection, but the master of the vessel is ultimately responsible for declaring the safe departure and seaworthiness of the craft.”

The PCG has vowed to make the results of the investigation public once concluded.

Search operations

The hunt for the 15 missing passengers has entered its fourth day, but authorities remain hopeful after deploying their floating and aerial assets from the CGDSEM, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), Eastern Mindanao Command, and the Philippine Air Force.

Gabion noted that the lone survivor, Christopher Bulig, was located approximately 11 nautical miles from Sarangani Island.

To optimize the search, the PCG is utilizing the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS). 

“We use this system to determine the search area based on the last known location from Jan. 19. It ensures we do not waste logistics or personnel efforts in the vast waters,” Gabion explained.

International coordination

Lt. Commander Jerome Bryan Mauring, NFEM Public Affairs Office Chief, explained that the survivor was found swimming toward the Philippine borders rather than toward Indonesia.

However, because sea currents are moving southwest toward Indonesian territory, the Philippines has formally sought international assistance. A written request for search and rescue coordination was sent to the Indonesian Consul General on Jan. 21, 2026.