Divers search for missing passengers in BasilanMANILA, Philippines — Nineteen technical wreck divers and a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commenced diving and search operations for the 10 missing passengers of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 off Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town. Passenger and cargo ro-ro vessel Trisha Kerstin 3 sank at around 1:50 a.m. of Jan. 26 east of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan. As of the PCG’s official tally yesterday morning, there are 316 survivors, 18 fatalities and 10 missing passengers. ‘Marina negligence’Sen. Raffy Tulfo yesterday tore into maritime regulators over what he described as systemic failures that led to the sinking of the Trisha Kerstin 3. “They should know the weight and the trim of the ship,” Tanseco said, explaining that cargo weight, ballast water, fuel and the vessel’s own weight are all factored in.

Source: Philippine Star January 28, 2026 16:32 UTC