ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard recovered 11 more bodies on Thursday, January 29, in the search for missing passengers of the Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan earlier this week.

The latest recoveries, made possible with the help of locals helping in the search, raised the death toll to 29. Eighteen bodies were retrieved on the day of the sea tragedy.

On Tuesday, January 27, authorities said 10 people were still missing after the Trisha Kerstin 3 ferry sank off Basilan, but the recovery of 11 bodies suggested the earlier tally may have understated the number of missing persons.

The ferry, owned by the Zamboanga City-based Aleson Shipping Lines, went down around 1:50 am on Monday, January 26, about 2.75 nautical miles northeast off Hadji Muhtamad, Baluk-Baluk Island. 

The PCG said the bodies taken by its personnel aboard BRP Tubbataha include those of a child and a Trisha Kerstin 3 crew member. Seven of those who died were female.

The bodies were to be taken first to Isabela City for forensic examination before being transported to Zamboanga City.

Impact of grounding

Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman of Isabela City, Basilan, said the grounding of Aleson’s entire passenger fleet significantly affected travel, and the economic activity of the city and nearby towns.

However, Hataman said, “It is a necessary inconvenience. The safety of the people should come first.”

Before the fleet was grounded, two of Aleson’s passenger and cargo vessels served the Isabela City-Zamboanga City route with four round trips daily, while two more vessels served the Lamitan City-Zamboanga City route, also with four round trips daily.

The two cities are the major trading centers of Basilan’s 11 towns, two of which are island municipalities.

Lamitan City was adversely affected given that Aleson is the only shipping firm serving the area. Isabela City, however, has services from the Batangas-based Montenegro Shipping Lines.

Long queues have been observed at the ticketing offices of Montenegro Shipping Lines and Weesam Express, both in Zamboanga City and Isabela City, after the Department of Transportation suspended Aleson’s entire passenger fleet on Tuesday, January 27.

A number of passengers, including patients requiring regular dialysis sessions and medical check-ups in Zamboanga City, faced delays in accessing necessary health care.

Other passengers, including students, workers, and traders, also reported difficulties as limited alternative transport options led to overcrowding at the port’s passenger terminals.

Other firms

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has urged other shipping firms to consider deploying vessels on routes affected by the grounding of Aleson’s passenger fleet to ensure continued sea travel for the public.

Lamitan City Port Manager Ken Calolot Bisal said on Thursday that Montenegro Shipping Lines was securing a special permit, and operations could begin as early as Friday, January 30, for the Lamitan City-Zamboanga City route, vice versa.

Bisal said officials of the shipping firm conducted an ocular inspection on Wednesday at the Lamitan City port in preparation for vessel operations.

She said the tentative daily schedule of departure from Zamboanga City to Lamitan City is at 10 am, with the return trip at 2 pm.

Basilan Vice Governor Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman said he has coordinated with Fast Cat president Chet Pastrana and requested that the shipping firm resume service on the Isabela City-Zamboanga City route.

Salliman said Fast Cat is set to deploy three vessels starting February 2.

“We worked closely with Fast Cat to make this happen and will continue partnering with them and concerned agencies to ensure operations are safe, efficient, and consistent with regulatory standards,” he said. – Rappler.com