What a let down. Even when you knew it couldn't be, there was always a little hope.
It sounds like they threw the ball back to the witnesses to show them where the crash site was rather than do an actual search. I guess if it were truth, the aunt and the sons would have contacted their local police when they found it.
This is an article written before the Manila navy investigated.
“There have been no reports to our provincial police in Tawi Tawi of any aircraft wreckage being found as well,” said Jocson, the former provincial police chief.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/10/11/Philippines-Malaysian-flag/