Jonathan Frederic De Santos

The Philippine Coast Guard has found the location of the ill-fated MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off the waters of Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, on February 3, 2026. Handout/PCG

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17708788301411770878825799.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Philippine Coast Guard has found the location of the ill-fated MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off the waters of Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, on February 3, 2026. Handout/PCG"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Philippine Coast Guard has found the location of the ill-fated MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off the waters of Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, on February 3, 2026. <em>Handout/PCG</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank off Basilan in late January, had more people on board than recorded on its manifest and more passengers than it was authorized to carry, the Department of Transportation told the Senate Committee on Public Services on Thursday.</p><p>Citing DOTr&#x27;s initial findings, Assistant Secretary Manuel Cabochan III said the ferry was authorized to carry 352 passengers but investigators found that some of the survivors and the dead were not listed in the manifest.</p><p>&quot;So the finding is nag-exceed po sila sa passenger capacity.&quot;</p><p>Authorities also found cargo overloading, with some cargo found to not have been weighed.</p><div><a 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<br/></a></div><p>&quot;So cargo overloading may have caused lashing problems po. So naputol ho yung lashes, we believe, causing possible shifting po ng rolling cargoes,&quot; he said, adding this may have made the vessel unstable.</p><p>DOTr also found that a pre-departure check found safety violations, which Cabochan said raises questions on how the ship was issued a sea worthiness certificate. </p><p>&quot;So despite the safety violations ... ang question is bakit naglayag pa rin? So on that part, we find merong neglect po of duty,&quot; Cabochan added.</p><p>He said the DOTr can only provide a partial report for now since MV Trisha Kerstin 3 is still underwater since authorities have been focusing on rescue and retrieval operations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/10/5-more-bodies-recovered-from-mv-trisha-kerstin-3-death-toll-now-at-51-1358">5 more bodies recovered from MV Trisha Kerstin-3; death toll now at 51<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>SHIP BEYOND RETIREMENT AGE</strong></div><p>Sen. Raffy Tulfo, committee chair, pointed out that the vessel is 31 years old, past its retirement age.</p><p>Cabochan said all the vessels of operator Aleson Shipping lines Inc. have been grounded but Tulfo wants criminal charges over the sinking.</p><p>&quot;Bakit administrative lang? It&#x27;s just a slap in the wrist? Heck no. Hindi pwede. Baka may pinagtatakpan dito,&quot; Tulfo said.</p><p>He said Aleson Shipping and its owners need to be charged for their alleged neglect. He said they knew that the ship was old and unsafe but let it sail anyway. </p><p>&quot;After 30 years, yung barko, yung steel hull, dapat pinag-retire, which they did not. Criminal case dapat,&quot; he said.</p><p>Cabochan relented.</p><p>Tulfo also said he wants criminal charges against negligent regulators from the Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Coast Guard.</p><p>&quot;Reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide, &#x27;yan po dapat ang ikaso sa kanila,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PASSENGER SAYS SHIP WAS LISTING EVEN WHILE DOCKED</strong></div><p>MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan said the suspension order on Aleson Shipping covers its 38 vessels, including those that are in dry dock or under repair.</p><p>&quot;So, the suspension covers even the cargo vessels, so passenger and cargo. And then we also sent immediately a safety investigation team who determined the cause of the accident,&quot; she also said.</p><p>Malaluan added the suspension would not be easily lifted and would &quot;depend on the final result of all the investigations.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/28/suspension-not-enough-tulfo-says-of-shipping-line-with-32-accidents-since-2019-1507">Suspension not enough, Tulfo says of shipping line with 32 accidents since 2019<br/></a></div><p>Fatima Sweenee Sajili, among the victims, told senators that the survivors had a common observation that the ship had been listing.</p><p>&quot;Maganda ang panahon pero overloaded at tagilid ang barko. Nais po namin iklaro na nasa dock pa lang po ang barko, tagilid na,&quot; she said</p><p>Nelson Tan of Aleson Shipping assured the panel they would provide financial assistance to all affected. He said that the company has released P10,000 to each of 274 passengers as immediate financial assistance.</p><p>&quot;I have on record here, your Honor, that for accidental death, it covers around 200,000 and for the emergency assistance is 50,000,&quot; he also said, referring to the company&#x27;s insurance policy. </p><p>Victims however disputed Tan&#x27;s claim. They said they were not provided adequate and timely assistance. <strong>— RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-A4kGMBTZL8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>DOTr also found that a pre-departure check found safety violations, which Assistant Secretary Manuel Cabochan III said raises questions on how the ship was issued a sea worthiness certificate. </p>

DOTr also found that a pre-departure check found safety violations, which Assistant Secretary Manuel Cabochan III said raises questions on how the ship was issued a sea worthiness certificate.

DOTr: MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was carrying too many passengers and too much cargo

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DOTr: MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was carrying too many passengers and too much cargo

ABS-CBN News

Published February 12, 2026 02:54 PM PHT

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Updated February 15, 2026 08:06 PM PHT

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MV Trisha Kerstin 3

Department of Transportation

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Raffy Tulfo

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