Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

MV Trisha Kerstin 3

Queenie Casimiro

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Search teams recovered three more bodies in the seas of Hadji Muhtammad in Basilan on Sunday as operations continue after a passenger ferry sank in the area last Monday.The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed the three bodies were found in the vicinity of Baluk-Baluk Island.Commodore Rejard Marfe of the Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao said the PCG&#x27;s BRP Tubbataha is expected to recover the bodies and transport them to Zamboanga City within the day.To date, the tragedy has officially claimed the lives of 39 passengers and crew. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/31/2-more-bodies-fished-out-of-basilan-waters-1530">2 more bodies fished out of Basilan waters </a></div>A father who went to the port last night to identify the body of his wife found that his daughter&#x27;s body had also already been recovered.Alnajir Muarip was only able to make the confirmation when he saw the girl&#x27;s body at the funeral parlor.He and his wife were traveling with has daughter Sharfa, 5, was traveling to their hometown in Parang, Sulu when the tragedy occurred on January 26.His wife Dernalyn was also four months pregnant, he said.The sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 owned by Aleson Shipping Lines Inc. has <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">raised questions on the company&#x27;s safety record </a>and on the actual number of casualties in the sinking.A survivor of the tragedy, Atty. Aquino Sajili, said Saturday that the recovery of more bodies shows that the 10 casualties insisted by Aleson Shipping Lines and the PCG earlier was a lie.&quot;Marami pa yan bangkay sa loob ng barko, bakit di pa nila mahanap-hanap?&quot; Sajili demanded.(There are many more bodies inside the ship. How come they haven&#x27;t been found?)A youth group has planned a protest in Jolo, Sulu to demand accountability for thr tragedy.

Commodore Rejard Marfe of the Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao said the PCG's BRP Tubbataha is expected to recover the bodies and transport them to Zamboanga City within the day.

Commodore Rejard Marfe of the Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao said the PCG's BRP Tubbataha is expected to recover the bodies and transport them to Zamboanga City within the day.

3 more bodies bring number of dead in Basilan ferry sinking to 39

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3 more bodies bring number of dead in Basilan ferry sinking to 39

Queenie Casimiro

Published Feb 01, 2026 11:43 AM PHT

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Hadji Muhtammad

Basilan

MV Trisha Kerstin 3

Aleson Shipping Lines

Philippine Coast Guard

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