Rescued teams were today continuing to search for a Cessna 206 plane that has been missing for 13 days in the Philippines.

The six-seater aircraft with tail number RPC1174 was carrying six people including the pilot and five passengers when it took off from Cauayan Airport on January 25 at around 2:15 pm.

Bizarrely, authorities said it did not send any distress signals but failed to arrive at Maconacon Airport 30 minutes later before being declared missing around 3 pm that day.

A search and rescue is ongoing along the path that the single-engine plane reportedly took. However, the operation dragged on for more than two weeks now due to bad weather.

Footage shows rescuers onboard a helicopter as they sought signs of the plane on the Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges on February 6. However, the 13th day of the aerial search failed as the mountain range was covered with thick clouds.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) deputy director-general for operations Captain Edgardo Diaz said in an interview with local media: ‘We are having difficulties because it is a mountainous area and normally the mountain is covered by clouds.'

Captain Edgardo noted that the pilot had been ‘flying for some time' but admitted the CAAP had no information on the age of the aircraft and flying hours of the pilot.

Meanwhile, CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said they did not receive any signal from the missing Cessna when it supposedly encountered problems.

Spokesman Eric said: ‘There are several factors why the ELT was not activated. But technically it should be activated upon impact or when it falls into the water. We don't know what really happened.'

The ELT or emergency locator transmitter is a piece of equipment that serves as a tracking device for small planes.

While the identities of the pilot and passengers were undisclosed by CAAP, relatives Ana Mae Kamatoy and Redentor Gabutan said they still hoped that their families would be found.

Ana said: ‘Let them do everything possible to find my family. I know they are alive. I want them back here now. I've been waiting since last night. The time of the day is running. I want to know now.'

Search operation is ongoing as CAAP said they re-evaluated reports obtained from rescue units.