Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday expressed her sympathies to the families of passengers who lost their lives after a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry sank off the waters of Basilan.
The incident, which occurred early Monday, claimed at least 18 lives, based on reports from the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao. More than 300 passengers have been rescued, while search and rescue operations continue for 24 individuals who remain missing.
“Mga kababayan, ikinalulungkot ko ang trahedyang sinapit ng barkong MV Trisha Kerstin 3 na lumubog sa karagatan malapit sa Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan. Kami sa Tanggapan ng Pangalawang Pangulo ay lubos na nakikiramay sa mga pamilya at mahal sa buhay ng mga nasawi,” Duterte said in a statement.
The Vice President also appealed for prayers for those still unaccounted for, as well as for the safety of the responders involved in the ongoing rescue efforts. “Ipinapanalangin din namin ang kaligtasan at tibay ng loob ng mga rescuers na patuloy na tumutulong sa gitna ng mapanganib na kondisyon sa dagat,” she added.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was traveling from Zamboanga City to Jolo, Sulu when it sank at around 1:50 a.m. on January 26, approximately 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island. The vessel was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members at the time.
Initial findings showed that the ferry departed the Port of Zamboanga City at around 9:20 p.m. on January 25 and was operating within its authorized passenger capacity of 352, according to the PCG.
PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said authorities are also looking into weather conditions, including the possible impact of the Amihan or Northeast Monsoon, as part of the ongoing investigation.
