DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 25 January) — Teeth and bone samples were collected on Sunday from five cadavers believed to be among the missing passengers and crew of the ill-fated M/Bca Amejara for DNA identification. A sixth body was recovered off Sarangani province on the seventh day of search operations and will be transported to Davao City on Monday.
Dr. Charina Labrador, medico-legal officer of NBI-Davao, stated the cadavers were decomposing and unrecognizable. The forensics team will also collect DNA samples from relatives, with 30 samples expected from 15 individuals originally reported onboard (later updated to 16, with one rescued and six bodies recovered).
The boat, which left Santa Ana Wharf on January 17 without a permit, went missing in Davao Gulf. Relatives are providing samples at OCD-Davao, and all DNA tests will be conducted at NBI Manila, with results expected in at least a month.
Secondary identification methods, such as clothing and tattoos, will also be used. The bodies were found by fishing vessels and transferred to the Philippine Navy before being airlifted to Davao.
Lt. Jason Lavadia of the Coast Guard confirmed the recovery of four bodies on Saturday and a fifth later that evening. A sixth was found Sunday afternoon. Search operations will continue, with authorities hopeful for survivors. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
