Philippine coast guard rescues one and searches for 12 missing after motorboat vanishes

RESCUED. A crew member of the missing recreational motorboat MBCA Amejara after being rescued by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel in waters off Sarangani province on Tuesday (Jan 20, 2026). The motorized vessel, along with nine passengers and three crew members, remains missing and the subject of a search and rescue operation by the PCG. -- Photo courtesy of PCG

MANILA, Philippines (AP): Philippine authorities on Tuesday rescued a crew member of a motorboat and were searching for 12 others, including business people who were out fishing for leisure, officials said.

The boat Amejara left a wharf in southern Davao city Saturday night with nine passengers and four crew members but failed to arrive as scheduled on Monday in the town of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental province, also in the south, the Philippine coast guard said.