Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-Wof

| X (Twitter): @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News

MANILA, February 01, 2026 (SDN) — Update: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said today, Sunday, the number of passengers killed in the sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 has now climbed to 40 after retrievals of more bodies from the sea.

The Coast Guard District of Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM) Commander,  Commodore Rejard Marfe provided the latest tally, correcting earlier reports it was 39. Survivors remains at 316.

Number 40 was a six-month-old baby girl brought to Basilan on January 26, day of the sea tragedy.

In relation with the incident, the PCG sent it’s condolences to the families of the victims as the agency “assures them that coordination with concerned government agencies and local government units remains ongoing to ensure accurate reporting and proper handling of all recovered victims.”

_________

January 29, 2026 — Latest tally of dead passengers in the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 sinking is now 29, a report today, Thursday, by RPTV’s Frontlline Newscast showed.

The afternoon report said authorities led by rescuers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said bodies of passengers of the roll-on, roll-off (RORO) sea vessel already bloated surfaced and were retrieved from the sea.

Owned by Aleson Shipping Line, M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was en route to Jolo, Sulu, on Sunday, January 25, departing Zamboanga City, Western Mindanao, at 9:20 p.m. At around 1.50 a.m. on Monday, January 26, the passenger-cargo vessel sunk round 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk Baluk Island, Basilan.

It had 332 passengers and 27 crew members at the time of the sea incident.

Perhaps maritime incidents like the one that has now claimed 29 people with more than 10 still missing are a time bomb waiting to explode.

Says who? Well, at least, MARINA’s Enforcement Service Director Luisito delos Santos acknowledged that a gauntlet of problems in Filipinos’ local sea travel is present.

“The Maritime Industry Authority recognizes that the recent incidents in domestic shipping, including the tragic sinking of M/V Trisha Kirsten 3, points to serious and systemic safety challenges within the country’s domestic maritime transport sector,” he emphasizes in his opening statement during a Zoom press conference on Wednesday, January 28.

MARINA said that Aleson Shipping Lines alone already had 32 such incidents as recorded by the maritime agency.

Delos Santos explained that some incidents involving the marine transport sector can’t solely be blamed on the weather, adding other safety risks could also be because of “vessel seaworthiness, maintenance practices, operational discipline, and safety management systems”.

The MARINA official claimed they are clear signals “that existing controls and routine oversight are no longer sufficient” for the local shipping sector.

Earlier, MARINA, headed by Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan shared a statement on the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3’s sinking, saying it was closely coordinating with the PCG following the incident.

“Based on initial information, the vessel was operating within its authorized passenger capacity at the time of the incident. MARINA Regional Office IX in Zamboanga City confirms that all statutory and safety documents are valid at the time of the incident,” the statement read.

Entire fleet and crew of Aleson Shipping Lines under maritime safety audit — DoTr

As the PCG is leading the search, rescue, and investigation efforts, MARINA also dispatched its own probe team to work parallel with coast guard “to determine the probable cause or any factors that may have contributed to the incident. Appropriate actions will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.”

In relation with this, MARINA assured the public of its commitment towards maritime safety as a top priority. “We are committed to ensuring accountability and preventing similar incidents in the future. We will provide updates as soon as verified information becomes available.

Meanwhile, a team of of 19 PCG technical divers arrived in Zamboanga City in the afternoon on January 28 led by Commodore Cheska Jamorol to look for the missing passengers of M/L Trisha Kerstin 3. Eight of 10 missing persons were ship crew, including their captain.

As a result of the maritime incident involving M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) has directed MARINA to allow shipping lines that passed safety regulations to replace the routes of Aleson Shipping Lines as their entire passenger fleet is now “grounded” by the DoTr.

Here’s the list of the routes of Aleson Shipping Lines given to various other shipping lines.:

Credit for images: MARINA.

Acting DoTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez acted while in Zamboanga City on January 17.

“We are grounding the entire passenger fleet of ASL, and I’m asking MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) to conduct a maritime safety audit together with the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard),” he said.

He gave MARINA and PCG only 10 days to conduct on both Aleson Shipping Lines’ fleet and crew a maritime safety audit and its results to determine if the erring shipping lines would be reinstated. — EDD K. Usman (Sources: DoTr, MARINA, PCG, RPTV Frontline newscast, Wikipedia) — /

________

The author

EDD, a native of Sub-Saharan Africa Buluan/Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, BARMM, college at UST, is a Manila-based journalist for over 40 years (33 years with Manila Bulletin), has five Media Awards (1 with University of the Philippines (UP) 2017 Science Journalism Award), covered and traveled over 40 times abroad), has contributed to Rappler, Business Mirror, Manila Business Insights, Panorama Magazine, Agriculture Magazine, and others, former Manila-based Foreign Correspondent of Saudi Arabia newspapers Saudi Gazette and Riyadh Daily, and The Peninsula (Qatar newspaper), with 2008 East-West Center (EWC) Journalism Seminar in the United States, 2000 Executive IT Seminar in Seoul, South Korea, with three Silver Awards in Photography, writes Muslim and Current Affairs, Enterprise, Science, Tech, Products Launch, and virtually everything under Heaven. (®)