DAVAO CITY — More than two months after the disappearance of the motorbanca MBCA Amejara, families of passengers who remain unaccounted for are making a renewed and emotional appeal to the public: help them find answers.
In a statement circulating among relatives, the families of those still missing since January 18, 2026 called on anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward and assist in locating their loved ones.
“Nanawagan ang pamilya… nga makig-alayon kung adunay impormasyon nga nahibaluan,” the appeal read, underscoring the desperation and enduring hope of families clinging to any possibility of closure.
The relatives believe that the missing passengers may have drifted across a vast maritime area, including the waters surrounding the Davao Gulf, the Sarangani Strait, the Celebes Sea, or even into waters under Indonesia’s jurisdiction.
They are urging fishermen, maritime operators, coastal communities, and authorities across these regions to report any sightings, recovered remains, or debris that could be linked to the ill-fated vessel.
Search Officially Concluded
The renewed plea comes more than a month after the Philippine Coast Guard, through Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao, officially terminated its large-scale search operations on February 18, 2026.
The mission spanned 30 days, including 15 days of intensive search and rescue (SAR) followed by another 15 days of search and retrieval operations. Authorities described the effort as exhaustive, involving all available maritime, aerial, and coastal monitoring resources guided by scientific drift modeling and weather analysis.
Despite these efforts, only one survivor was rescued.
Earlier in the operation, at least seven bodies believed to be among the passengers were recovered in separate locations across the Celebes Sea and near Sarangani waters. However, several individuals remain missing, and their fate continues to haunt their families.
A Tragedy at Sea
The MBCA Amejara departed from Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City on the evening of January 17, 2026, carrying 16 passengers. It was later reported missing after encountering trouble at sea under still unclear circumstances.
Search operations involved a massive inter-agency response, including the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police Maritime Group, and other national agencies, alongside local government units and volunteer groups.
Assets deployed ranged from naval vessels to aircraft such as the Beechcraft King Air C90, which conducted aerial surveillance over vast and remote sea lanes, including the maritime boundary between the Philippines and Indonesia.
Lingering Pain, Unanswered Questions
For the families, the end of official search operations did not bring closure—only deeper uncertainty.
While authorities assured that any new credible information will still be acted upon, the burden of searching now weighs heavily on the families and coastal communities.
Their latest appeal reflects both grief and determination.
As days turn into months, the vast waters where the vessel vanished remain a silent witness to a tragedy that has yet to be fully understood—and for the families left behind, the search is far from over.