BASILAN — January 30, 2026 — The death toll from the sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 has climbed further after two additional cadavers were recovered at noon on Friday on Pilas Island in the municipality of Haji Muhtammad, Basilan, as search and rescue (SAR) operations entered their fifth day.
The latest recovery adds to the 11 bodies found on Thursday and the 18 cadavers initially retrieved shortly after the vessel sank on January 26, bringing the number of confirmed fatalities to at least 29, according to authorities. Several passengers remain missing.
“We have recovered two bodies on Pilas Island this noon. One was wearing clothing with Aleson branding, while we are still conducting verification procedures for the second,” said Commodore Rejard Marfe, Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Southwestern Mindanao District.
Marfe emphasized that SAR teams remain fully deployed despite the passage of time since the maritime disaster.
“This is now our fifth day of operations since the vessel sank. Our teams are working tirelessly. We are committed to locating all those affected and ensuring that proper identification and notification procedures are followed for the families,” he said.
According to initial reports, one of the newly recovered victims was wearing a T-shirt bearing the Aleson logo, strengthening indications that the fatalities are linked to the ill-fated vessel operated by Aleson Shipping Lines. Authorities are continuing forensic and verification processes to establish the identities of the victims.
Meanwhile, the PCG has rolled out free round-trip sea transport between Isabela City, Basilan and Zamboanga City starting Friday, following the suspension of Aleson Shipping Lines’ operations.
“We implemented the free ride program to assist passengers affected by the suspension. Priority is given to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and children to ensure their safe and timely travel,” said ASN SG Montero of PCG/CGPAS.
Search operations continue both at sea and along nearby shorelines, with authorities coordinating closely with partner agencies to expand coverage, retrieve possible remains, and provide assistance to grieving families.
The sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 is now being regarded as one of the deadliest maritime incidents in the area in recent years, prompting renewed calls for stricter maritime safety measures and accountability as investigations remain ongoing.