MBCA Amejara
DAVAO CITY – A recreational vessel with 15 passengers and crew went missing in the Davao Gulf on Monday night.
A search and rescue operation is underway on Tuesday, Jan. 20, for the vessel.
The Philippine Coast Guard Station-Davao Occidental has issued a Notice to Mariners on Monday to be on a vigilant for the vessel – MBCA Amejara.
According to PCG-Davao Occidental, the motorized banca was carrying 11 passengers and four crew members.
Ensign Ralph Vicent Punongbayan, PCG Substation commander in Jose Abad Santos town, Davao Occidental, said that they and various agencies are participating in the search and rescue mission.
The Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, and local government units have dispatched assets to join the SAR mission.
Punongbayan said there is no sighting yet of the vessel or passengers.
He said that the vessel reportedly capsized about 22 nautical miles or about 40 kilometers east of the shoreline of Davao Occidental.
The vessel was carrying fishing enthusiasts and departed Santa Ana Port here on Jan. 17. It was expected to arrive at Gov. Generoso town, Davao Occidental on Monday.
Punongbayan said they received reports that some passengers of the vessel were able to contact their relatives before they went missing. He added that cellular signal was reportedly erratic in the area.
The PCG-Davao Occidental said the vessel was last sighted in the vicinity of Sarangani Islands (Balut).
Flight tracking site AirNav Radar showed that a low-flying aircraft with registration number RP-C7577 was flying on a survey pattern off the coast of Davao Occidental as of posting time.