Philippine Coast Guard Divers Recover Another Body from Sunken Vessel Wreckage
In a somber development, the technical diving team of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has successfully recovered another cadaver during resumed underwater operations on Saturday, February 14, 2026. This operation is directly connected to the tragic MV Trisha Kerstin 3 maritime incident that has gripped the nation with concern.
Resumption of Operations After Medical Protocol
The underwater search and recovery efforts resumed just one day after the technical divers underwent essential hyperbaric oxygen therapy on Friday, February 13. This medical treatment is a standard post-dive protocol implemented to ensure diver safety following an intensive 16-day period of extended underwater search and rescue operations in the challenging waters near Basilan.
The PCG confirmed that the recovered individual is a male cadaver, extracted from the wreck site of the ill-fated vessel. This latest recovery has significant implications for the official casualty count from this maritime disaster.
Updated Casualty Figures and Joint Validation
With this recovery, the total number of confirmed fatalities from the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 incident has now risen to 54 individuals. The PCG provided a comprehensive update, noting that this figure includes 293 survivors and 25 persons who remain missing, their fates still unknown.
The update also formally accounts for a severed head recovered by divers on Wednesday, February 11, which has been classified as an additional fatality through meticulous validation processes.
These consolidated numbers are the result of rigorous joint validation efforts involving multiple agencies. The Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO), the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM), and the affected families themselves have all participated in daily coordination with inter-agency search and rescue authorities to ensure accuracy and transparency.
Commitment to Continuing Search and Diver Safety
The Philippine Coast Guard has reiterated its unwavering commitment to locating all remaining missing persons. Furthermore, the agency pledges continued support to the affected families in their ongoing pursuit of accountability and justice for this tragic event.
Captain Noemie Cayabyab, the official PCG spokesperson, emphasized that the health and welfare of all personnel involved remain the top priority. "All diving operations strictly adhere to established safety standards, with mandatory medical evaluations conducted before and after every mission," Cayabyab stated.
She added that the hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a precautionary, medically supervised process crucial for preventing and managing potential diving-related conditions, such as decompression sickness, especially after prolonged diving activities.
"The Technical Diving Group continues to maintain operational readiness while upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism in the performance of their duties," Captain Cayabyab affirmed.
Background of the Maritime Incident
The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank on January 26, 2026, approximately 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island in the municipality of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan province. The vessel, owned by the Zamboanga City-based Aleson Shipping Lines, was en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo, Sulu, when the maritime incident occurred, leading to this extensive and ongoing search and rescue operation.
