DAVAO CITY – The Philippine Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) announced Thursday that the commander of the Coast Guard Santa Ana Substation and seven others have been relieved following the disappearance of the MBCA Amejara, an outrigger boat, off the waters of Davao Occidental province.

During a press briefing, CGDSEM deputy commander Macy Gabion said the relieved personnel will be reassigned to the district headquarters while an investigation is ongoing.

On Jan. 19, the recreational motor banca MBCA Amejara was reported missing after departing Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City bound for Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental with 16 people on board.

A day later, survivor Christopher Bulig, a crew member of the boat, was rescued by Coast Guard personnel.

“As of today, the investigation is ongoing and the Philippine Coast Guard, particularly CGDSEM, will not preempt the results. Our focus remains on search and rescue operations, as time is critical,” Gabion said.

She added that details about the vessel and its intended destination are still being verified.

“At present, there is no information yet to divulge to the media and the public because the investigation is still underway,” Gablon said.

Department of Social Welfare and Development-11 Social Welfare Officer Gemma dela Cruz said  Bulig, who is currently under medical care at the Camp Panacan Station Hospital here, is not yet emotionally stable and cannot be interviewed.

“For now, he cannot participate in a press briefing. He is not yet emotionally stable following what happened, and he might give inaccurate information. His statement is not yet stable,” Dela Cruz said, adding that Bulig continues to hope that the other boat passengers, his companions, are safe.

Now on its fourth day, search and rescue operations continue with the Police Regional Office-Davao (PRO-11) reaffirming its full support and coordination with the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, Coast Guard, and local disaster response agencies.

In a statement, PRO-11 Director Police Brig. Gen. Leon Victor Rosete assured that all concerned agencies are exhausting all possible means to locate and rescue the missing passengers and crew.

“PRO-11 assures the public that all agencies involved are firm in their resolve to safeguard lives and uphold public safety,” Rosete said.

Lt. Commander Jerome Bryan Mauring of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao acknowledged the difficulty of the search, citing rough seas, strong currents, and the vast search area.

“We are trying to find a needle in a haystack,” Mauring said, adding that all responding units are doing their best to locate the other 15 passengers and return them safely to their families. He also asked everyone to refrain from spreading false or unverified information.

Police Major Richeen Lagnayo, commander of the Davao City police Santa Ana Police Station, said they are conducting validation based on reports and community accounts as part of the Philippine National Police’s role.

He said the community did not see any illegal activities before the boat’s departure. “We are waiting for the results of the investigation by the lead agency, which is the Philippine Coast Guard,” Lagnayo said, adding that rest assured, criminal charges will be filed against those involved in the missing boat if serious safety violations are established.

Meanwhile, the PCG has deployed its Britten-Norman Islander to take part in the fourth day of the search and rescue operations.

Gabion said the aircraft flew from Manila and refueled in Cebu.

The twin-engine propeller aircraft with tail number PCG-251 flew past this city enroute to the vicinity of Sarangani Island at 12:45 p.m. Thursday.

PCG-251 is primarily utilized for surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), and maritime law enforcement.

Gabion also disclosed that the Philippine Air Force has deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to assist in the SAR mission.

Asked why the PCG did not deploy the more advanced Airbus H-145 helicopter, Gabion said that the decision will depend on general headquarters. “We just requested an aircraft for the SAR mission and it’s up to the general headquarters if what they are going to send,” she said.

The PCG acquired two Airbus H-145 helicopters in 2020. They are equipped with FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) cameras, which can detect infrared radiation (heat) and translate it into a visible image and allow users to see in total darkness, fog, or smoke.

Gabion said that PCG-251 is not equipped with FLIR cameras. However, the BN Islander aircraft has a longer range of about 1,400 kilometers while the Airbus H-145 has a maximum range of 650 kilometers.

Relatives and friends of the missing have been asking through social media channels where they can rent or borrow drones equipped with thermal imaging features. The request has been making rounds in social media pages since Wednesday.

The PCG said that the coverage of the SAR mission has now shifted towards the international waters, more particularly along the borders of Indonesia.

Lt. Commander Jerome Bryan Mauring, spokesperson of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), said they are now coordinating with their Indonesian counterparts in ongoing SAR operations.

The PCG said that there were 16 people onboard as one of the passengers was not listed in the manifest. (With reports from PNA)