By Marisol Bo-oc | 02:31 PM January 24, 2026
CEBU CITY — A Boholano seaman from Jagna town was among those who died after a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel sank in the West Philippine Sea in the early hours of Friday, January 23, 2026, authorities confirmed.
The victim was identified as Marcelo Virtudazo, a native of Jagna, Bohol, who was one of two Filipino crew members killed in the maritime tragedy. The cargo ship, identified as Devon Bay, was carrying 21 Filipino crew members when it encountered a major malfunction at sea that led to its capsizing and eventual sinking.
According to reports from authorities and the China Coast Guard (CCG), which was the first to respond, a distress call was received at around 1:34 a.m. on Friday.
The vessel was reported to be about 100 kilometers northwest of Scarborough Shoal, a disputed and fish-rich area in the West Philippine Sea.
The CCG immediately deployed rescue vessels in the area and managed to save 19 crew members. However, two sailors, including Virtudazo, did not survive. The rescued crew members were pulled from the water and brought to safety, with most reported to be in stable condition and undergoing medical evaluation.
The Philippine Coast Guard said it dispatched two vessels and two aircraft to assist in the search and rescue operations. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) later confirmed that the bulk carrier sank while en route to Yangjiang, Guangdong province in southern China.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) have extended assistance to Virtudazo’s family in Jagna, including financial aid and the processing of the repatriation of his remains. Support is also being provided to the families of the other affected crew members.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), in coordination with the Singaporean government, has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the vessel’s sinking. Singapore, as the ship’s flag state, said it is working closely with the ship owner and relevant search and rescue authorities.
All surviving crew members are reported to be safe and are undergoing medical check-ups as arrangements are being made for their repatriation to the Philippines.
The incident occurred in waters that have long been a source of tension between China and the Philippines due to overlapping territorial claims. Despite international disputes over the area, authorities stressed that rescue operations were promptly carried out to save lives. With reports from AP and Al Jazeera
