Overview
- The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 went down before dawn on Jan. 26 near Baluk-Baluk Island off Basilan while sailing from Zamboanga City to Jolo, with at least 18 confirmed dead and about 317 people rescued.
- A revised tally put 344 people on board after some listed passengers did not embark, and the 10 still unaccounted for include the captain, eight crew members and a safety marshal.
- Transportation officials ordered all Aleson Shipping Lines passenger vessels to remain in port for up to a 10‑day safety audit, and the president directed a full investigation.
- Search-and-rescue operations continue with coast guard and navy ships, an aircraft and a Black Hawk helicopter, while investigators conduct a marine casualty probe to determine the cause.
- Officials reported no initial sign of overloading as accounts diverged on sea conditions, and the ferry’s owner faces scrutiny given a prior fatal incident on a nearby route in 2023.