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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider OCD identifies 4 Amejara passengers

OCD identifies 4 Amejara passengers

Published Jan 28, 2026 05:31 pm
RESPONDERS transport cadavers from a sunken vessel upon arrival in Davao City on Sunday. (PDRRMO Davao Occidental photo)
RESPONDERS transport cadavers from a sunken vessel upon arrival in Davao City on Sunday. (PDRRMO Davao Occidental photo)
DAVAO CITY – The Office of Civil Defense in Davao Region on Wednesday released the identities of four passengers of MBCA Amejara.
OCD-Davao Region chief Ednar Dayanghirang identified the bodies as those of Porferio Lanorias Jr., Ranil Florino, John Julius Alcazar, and Hector Emberga.
Dayanghirang said that their bodies have been identified and claimed by their families.
They were identified through the Dead Victim Identification (DVI) process, with most victims recognized by their families based on tattoos, distinguishing physical marks, dental records, and clothing.
On Sunday, the National Bureau of Investigation collected specimens from the cadavers to establish their identities through deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA testing.
The collection was conducted in a funeral shop after their bodies were airlifted from Sarangani Island on Jan. 25.
Authorities said the bodies were on different stages of decomposition.
The Philippine Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao has yet to acknowledge the names of the missing persons circulating in social media since Jan. 19.
The PCG insisted that they cannot yet release the names since they are still conducting an investigation.
There were 15 persons (11 passengers and four crew members) onboard the recreational vessel when it reportedly capsized on Jan. 19.
However, claims on social media circulated that there were 16 to 17 persons allegedly onboard the boat.
Alcazar, Emberga, and Lanorias were among those listed in the manifesto. Florino's name was among the names and pictures in the circulating list of passengers.
The PCG later on said that there were allegedly 16 people on board. Of them, only one crew member was rescued from the vicinity of Sarangani Island in Davao Occidental on Jan. 20.
Five bodies were recovered on Jan. 24 and another body was retrieved on Sunday evening.
The five cadavers were found floating about 75 nautical miles southwest of Sarangani Island. They were spotted by a fishing fleet.
The ill-fated boat reportedly left Santa Ana Port in Davao City at 8 p.m. on Jan. 17, carrying 15 persons, bound for Gov. Generoso in Davao Oriental.
It was reported missing in the afternoon of Jan. 19 after it reportedly encountered rough sea conditions while traversing the Davao Gulf.
The incident triggered a multi-agency search and rescue operation that involved combined air and sea assets from the PCG, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, Police Regional Maritime Unit, and local government disaster office.
Dayanghirang added that two unidentified bodies might be temporarily buried while waiting for DNA results.
Over a week since the recreational vessel went missing, the PCG said that it is still on a search and rescue mission.
The current focus of SAR operations is about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) away southwest of the approximate location where the boat reportedly capsized.

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