Basilan: Technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) found another body in the wreck of the sunken passenger ferry MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in waters off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, PCG Spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab stated that the recovered body increases the total number of fatalities in the incident to 58, with 293 survivors and 21 persons still missing. She emphasized that these figures are consolidated through joint validation efforts by the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM), and the affected families who conduct daily coordination with interagency search and rescue authorities.
PCG divers continue their search for the missing passengers daily, having previously found three bodies on Sunday.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez announced last Wednesday the filing of administrative and criminal charges against Aleson Shipping Lines, the operator of the sunken ferry, and some government officials and personnel. These charges come as a result of a government investigation into the sinking, which revealed that M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was permitted to sail despite 'glaring safety deficiencies' in its passenger capacity certification, drydock/repair compliance, and seaworthiness certification.
