The Philippine Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao has shifted its search and rescue operations to Sector 4 and the upper portion of Sector 3, following updated drift analysis indicating a possible circulation of remains closer to Sarangani Bay and the northern Celebes Sea, on the eighth day of search and rescue operations for the capsized motorbanca MBCA Amejara. As of Sunday, January 25, efforts were already focused on Sector 4, the outermost search zone in Southern Mindanao waters, with another cadaver recovered in the area, raising the total number of bodies retrieved to six since Saturday, January 24. The recovery was made through the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel MCS 3010 during intensified SAR operations in waters off Buca Point, Maasim, Sarangani, about 43.06 nautical miles southwest by south. Most of the previously recovered cadavers were located at least 75 nautical miles offshore, in waters approaching, but not crossing, the boundary of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone near Indonesia. The Philippine Coast Guard remains hopeful and will continue search and rescue operations until they are no longer practicable, with the Philippine Navy, Air Force, and other assets assisting in the mission, and nine individuals still unaccounted for.
