Isabela City, Basilan — January 29, 2026 —
The death toll from the sinking of passenger ferry MV Trisha Kerstin 3 continues to climb after authorities recovered additional bodies floating near Baluk-Baluk Island in the municipality of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.
As of Thursday noon, a total of 11 bodies have been recovered from waters where the vessel went down early Monday morning. Among the fatalities is a young child whose gender has yet to be determined, underscoring the scale of the tragedy.
Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman confirmed the latest recoveries, saying that search, rescue, and retrieval operations remain ongoing.
“Initial reports indicate that several cadavers were found floating. These will be brought to Isabela City Port or Zamboanga Port for proper identification and documentation,” Hataman said.
The most recent recovery involved the body of an adult male, found floating near Baluk-Baluk Island on Thursday. Authorities noted that the victim was wearing pants similar to those worn by crew members of the ill-fated ferry, raising the possibility that he may be among the ship’s personnel.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) continues to coordinate closely with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the handling, identification, and documentation of the remains, as well as in extending assistance to affected families.
Prior to the latest recoveries, authorities reported 18 fatalities and more than 300 passengers safely rescued. Officials cautioned that the official death toll may still increase as search teams continue to scour the area and as newly recovered remains reach port for verification.
The Philippine Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM) earlier confirmed that MV Trisha Kerstin 3, operated by Aleson Shipping Lines, sank at around 1:50 a.m. on January 26, 2026, approximately 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island. The ferry was en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo, Sulu when the incident occurred shortly after midnight.
According to the Coast Guard, the vessel was not overloaded at the time of departure. Official records show that the ferry carried 332 passengers and 27 crew members, or 359 persons in total, which was within its authorized maximum capacity. The ship departed the Port of Zamboanga City at around 9:20 p.m. on January 25.
A distress call transmitted by a PCG Sea Marshal onboard immediately triggered a large-scale rescue operation. Among the first assets deployed was the 44-meter Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV-4401) BRP Tubbataha, which was dispatched from Zamboanga City to assist in rescue and retrieval efforts.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the sinking, while the provincial government of Basilan has assured the public that financial assistance and psychosocial support will be provided to the families of the victims and survivors of the maritime disaster.
Search and recovery operations remain ongoing.