Basilan sea mishap kills at least 15

COTABATO CITY — At least 15 passengers died after the M/V Trisha Kirsten 3 sank in the territorial waters of Basilan after midnight on Sunday.

The passenger vessel was carrying 332 passengers and 26 crewmen when it departed from the seaport in Zamboanga City on Sunday evening, bound for Jolo.

Officials of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Basilan, local executives and Army Lt. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, separately told reporters on Monday afternoon that 316 passengers and the 26 crewmen had been rescued.

All of them are now being watched over by government health and social welfare workers.

The crewmen had told PCG officials and emergency responders from the office of Basilan Governor Mujiv S. Hataman that the boat lost buoyancy after its lower deck, where its engine is located, got flooded with sea waters.

Officials of the PCG’s Southwestern Mindanao Unit said the bodies of all 15 passengers had been transported to different mortuaries.

Mr. Hataman and PCG officials in Basilan said they are grateful to barangay officials and the fishermen from Hadji Muhtamad and other coastal towns in the province who helped rescue the passengers of the sunken boat.

“To all of them and to the administration of Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Nanoh, we are thankful,” Mr. Hataman, chairman of the multi-sector Basilan Provincial Peace and Order Council, said.

Mr. Hataman said personnel of their health and social welfare offices have provided the rescued passengers of the sunken M/V Trisha Kirsten 3 with food and other essential provisions.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said it is investigating Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc. following the sinking of the vessel.

“MARINA assures the public that maritime safety remains a top priority, and we are committed to ensuring accountability and preventing similar incidents in the future. We will provide updates as soon as verified information becomes available,” it said in a media release on Monday.

Based on its initial investigation, the passenger vessel was still operating within its authorized passenger capacity at the time of the incident.

“MARINA has dispatched an investigation team 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,” it said.

Separately, Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc. said that it has immediately activated its quick response measure and deployed all available vessels in the area during the incident.

“We regret to inform the public that our passenger vessel, M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, sank off Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan in the early hours of Jan. 26,” it said, adding that it is also in coordination with the PCG and all relevant agencies for the search and rescue operations.  — John Felix M. Unson and Ashley Erika O. Jose