GLAN, Sarangani Province — All nine marine biology students and three crew members aboard a distressed motorized banca were safely rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard Eastern Sarangani (CGSES) following a swift search and rescue (SAR) operation off the waters of Barangay Gumasa on January 24, 2026.
The rescue involved MBCA GWEEN, which encountered engine malfunction and sustained outrigger damage amid rough sea conditions while conducting marine biology fieldwork in Sarangani Bay. The students were undertaking thesis-related research as part of their Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology program.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the distress call triggered immediate coordination among Coast Guard Sub-Station Glan (CGSS Glan), the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Glan, and the Local Government Unit of Glan, under the leadership of Mayor Victor James Yap Sr.
Rescue teams located the distressed banca approximately eight nautical miles offshore, where all passengers were safely transferred to responding rescue assets. The rescued individuals were initially brought to Horizon Beach Resort in Barangay Gumasa, where they underwent medical evaluation by the MDRRMO medical team and were found to be in good physical condition.
Both the SAR team and the rescued passengers later arrived safely at the Port of Glan, while MBCA GWEEN was successfully towed back to port without further incident.
Initial investigation revealed that the vessel had departed from Lower Malok, Barangay Labangal, General Santos City, when it ran into mechanical trouble due to strong waves, prompting the emergency request for assistance. The rescued students were subsequently turned over to their respective families and safely returned to General Santos City.
The operation underscores the Philippine Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to maritime safety and search-and-rescue readiness, particularly in protecting lives at sea and supporting legitimate maritime activities such as research and education.