Two More Bodies Recovered in Basilan Sea Tragedy as Death Toll Rises to 31
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has made a somber discovery in the ongoing search for victims of the Trisha Kerstin 3 maritime disaster. On Friday, January 30, 2026, PCG personnel recovered two additional bodies from the waters of Hadji Muhtamad in Basilan province, bringing the confirmed death toll from the incident to 31 individuals.
Search Operations Continue on Fifth Day
Commodore Rejard Marfe, commander of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM), reported that the two bodies were found near Pilas Island in Hadji Muhtamad. One of the deceased was wearing clothing with Aleson branding, while identification procedures are still underway for the second remains.
"Our SAR (search and rescue) teams remain on site and are working tirelessly," Marfe stated. "This is now the fifth day of operations since the vessel sank on Monday, January 26. We are committed to locating all those affected and ensuring proper procedures are followed for identification and notification of families."
Vessel Sinking and Recovery Efforts
The M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 sank on Monday, January 26, approximately 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan. The vessel was en route to Jolo, Sulu from Zamboanga City when the tragedy occurred.
All recovered bodies are being transported to Isabela City for formal identification procedures. According to Nixon Alonzo, chief of the Basilan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), four of the 11 bodies recovered on Thursday were already brought to Sulu, while the PCG transported five to Zamboanga City. Two bodies remain unidentified.
"They were identified by the Scene of Crime Operatives and families," Alonzo explained during a Friday update.
Coordinated Response from Government Agencies
The Bangsamoro’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) has deployed a composite team through its Basilan provincial office to support the Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) cluster. This team, working with the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), is collaborating closely with the Basilan PDRRMO to enhance coordination and response efforts.
The MDM Cluster is responsible for several critical functions:
- Search, recovery, identification, documentation, and respectful disposition of the deceased
- Systematic recording, tracing, and verification of missing individuals
- Providing psychosocial, legal, and administrative support to affected families
- Ensuring accurate, coordinated information-sharing among concerned agencies
This comprehensive approach aims to uphold human dignity, prevent misinformation, and support an effective humanitarian response during this difficult time for the affected communities.
