Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<p>MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Tuesday it was grounding the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, the owner of a ferry that sank off Basilan this week, killing at least 18 and leaving 10 still missing. </p><p>“We are grounding the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping and I am asking MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) to conduct a maritime safety audit, together with the Philippine Coast Guard, kasama na ang inspeksyon --- hindi lang ng kanilang barko, kasama na rin ang kanilang mga crew,” DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.   </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px;display:block" width="500"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769481851682AFP__20260126__93YE3E8__v1__HighRes__PhilippinesTransportAccident.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="500"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This handout photo from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) taken and received on January 26, 2026 shows survivors of the sunken M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 being transferred to another ship in waters off Basilan province.<br id="isPasted"/>A ferry carrying 342 passengers sank on January 26 morning in the southern Philippines, leaving at least eight dead, a local mayor said. <em>Handout/Philippine Coast Guard via AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 issued a distress signal around 1:50 am Monday, a bit over four hours after it departed the Port of Zamboanga City, the PCG earlier said. </p><p>The triple-decker vessel sank on nearly the same route where<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/04/09/23/basilan-ferry-fire-death-toll-climbs-to-32"> 31 people died in 2023 after a fire aboard the Lady Mary Joy 3 ferry.</a> </p><p>Both ships were owned by locally based Aleson Shipping Lines. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/27/philippine-ferry-survivor-describes-scenes-of-panic-wait-for-rescue-0016">Philippine ferry survivor describes scenes of panic, wait for rescue</a></div><p>The 18 fatalities from Monday’s tragedy included an infant, Lopez said.   </p><p>He said search-and-rescue efforts continued for the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/27/captain-8-crew-still-missing-after-ferry-sinking-14-passengers-canceled-tickets-0859">10 missing</a>, including the ferry’s captain, 8 crew members, and a PCG marshal. </p><div><iframe width="1201" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FHK6bAl6tJM" title="Rescued passengers receive medical treatment at PH port after ferry capsize | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a “full blown investigation” to determine the cause of the ferry sinking, Lopez said. </p><p>“Kung lalabas po sa imbestigasyon na may pagkukulang ang gobyerno, makakaasa po kayo na yayariin, sisibakin. We&#x27;ll file appropriate cases... we are exacting accountability and we will be very unforgiving,” the official said. </p><p>“Ganoon din po sa pang ng ship owner. Kung lalabas sa imbestigasyon na mayroon silang pagkukulang, they will expect the full force of the law also,” he added. </p><p>Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Ronnie Gavan said ongoing search-and-rescue efforts remained the immediate priority.</p><p>&quot;The most important thing at this point is lives,&quot; he said, adding that 16 technical divers and a remotely operated vehicle were being flown in from Manila to assist in the coming investigation.</p><p>A coast guard press aide told AFP that the ship was believed to be sitting at a depth of about 76 meters. </p><p>An Aleson Shipping Lines employee who answered the phone said the company would release a statement addressing the situation within the day.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NEGLIGENT&#x27; </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>On Monday, a survivor of the sinking told AFP that &quot;no one from the crew alerted us&quot;, describing the panic that gripped passengers as the ship began tilting in the water.</p><p>Aquino Sajili said passengers had raced to one side of the ship in a desperate attempt to rebalance it before he heard a &quot;loud snap&quot; that preceded the ship&#x27;s rapid sinking.</p><p>Those who survived then spent hours bobbing in life jackets or clinging to other floatation devices while awaiting rescue, the 53-year-old lawyer said.</p><p>&quot;I think we can gather enough evidence to prove that the crew members of the ship were really negligent,&quot; Sajili said, adding he believed a lawsuit was likely.</p><div><iframe width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2L4orW1jm2w" title="&#x27;Bigla na lang tumagilid&#x27;: What caused ferry sinking off Basilan | DZMM TeleRadyo" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The Philippines has a long history of disasters involving the inter-island ferries that ply its seas. Many rely on cheap and poorly regulated boats and ships for transport between the country&#x27;s more than 7,000 islands.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/26/-tumagilid-ang-barko-namin-tulong-missing-cadet-sought-help-as-ferry-sank-off-basilan-1618">&#x27;Tumagilid ang barko namin, tulong!&#x27;: Missing cadet sought help as ferry sank off Basilan</a></div><p>A 2015 ferry capsizing off the western coast of Leyte Island resulted in more than 60 deaths.</p><p>In 1987, the Dona Paz ferry collided with an oil tanker in a pre-Christmas accident that claimed more than 4,000 lives. It was the world&#x27;s worst peacetime disaster at sea.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><iframe width="1200" height="675" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/it03QLLL_Cg" title="Rescued passengers arrive at Philippine port after ferry capsize | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Tuesday it was grounding the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, the owner of a ferry that sank off Basilan this week, killing at least 18 and leaving 10 still missing.</p>

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Tuesday it was grounding the entire passenger fleet of Aleson Shipping Lines, the owner of a ferry that sank off Basilan this week, killing at least 18 and leaving 10 still missing.

DOTr grounds Aleson's fleet amid 'full-blown' investigation into Basilan ferry sinking

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DOTr grounds Aleson's fleet amid 'full-blown' investigation into Basilan ferry sinking

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse,

Published January 27, 2026 10:49 AM PHT

|

Updated January 27, 2026 02:49 PM PHT

Read More:

ferry

Basilan

Aleson

MV Trisha Kerstin 3

DOTr

coast guard

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