The death toll from the sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 has officially risen to 54 after recovery teams retrieved another body from the wreckage over the weekend.
The grim discovery comes as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local authorities continue to grapple with the aftermath of one of the region’s deadliest maritime disasters in recent years.
The vessel, which was traveling the Zamboanga-to-Jolo route, sank off the coast of Baluk-Baluk Island after encountering heavy swells that reportedly flooded the lower decks.
While 293 survivors have been accounted for, the search remains active for 25 individuals who are still listed as missing.
The mounting fatalities have sparked a firestorm of criticism regarding maritime safety enforcement.
Preliminary investigations by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) suggest the 31-year-old ferry was severely overloaded, carrying dozens of passengers who were not included in the official manifest.
Testimonies from survivors have painted a harrowing picture of the ship’s final moments, with many claiming that life jackets were kept in locked compartments, making them inaccessible as the vessel began to tilt.
In response to the tragedy, the DOTr has filed administrative charges against several officials from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for allegedly renewing the safety certificates of the aging vessel despite its condition.
Six Coast Guard personnel who were on duty at the port of departure have also been placed under preventive suspension pending an inquiry into how the ferry was cleared for voyage.
Technical divers are currently focusing their efforts on the sunken hull, located at a significant depth in the Sulu Sea.
Authorities have admitted that the discrepancy between the ship’s manifest and the actual number of people on board has made it difficult to determine the exact number of victims remaining underwater.
As families gather at the Zamboanga City port for news of their loved ones, the tragedy has reignited calls for the mandatory retirement of wooden-hulled and aging steel vessels to prevent another disaster in Philippine waters.