Operator says Maharlika 2 carrying 117 people, not 113, when it sank

As it vowed to continue investigating the "discrepancy" over the total number of passengers on board the ill-fated M/V Maharlika 2, the inter-island vessel's operator on Wednesday clarified the numbers it previously released.

In a statement, Philharbor Ferries and Port Services, Inc. said the total passenger count was 117, not 113 as earlier stated.

The updated numbers included:

* 58 passengers listed in the manifest submitted to the Philippine Coast Guard;
* 1 child passenger not on the manifest, but accompanied by a parent;
* 28 drivers / bus and trucking assistants "documented on a separate form" that was not submitted to the PCG; and
* 30 vessel crew, not 32 as "two of them were on leave that day"

"As of today, the rescue operation is still ongoing and our Emergency Preparedness Team is at the area attending to the needs of the victims," the statement read.

"The management will continue on the investigation until all issues are resolved," it added.

Meanwhile, authorities had decided to stop the search and recovery operations for three victims still missing.

The decision was agreed upon by the PCG, the Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Air Force in order to give way to the investigation.

Among the issues the Coast Guard is focusing its investigation on is the condition of the ill-fated vessel, which is already more than 30 years old.

The death toll from the incident reached eight on Monday, as five more bodies were recovered during the search, rescue, and retrieval operations. Among the bodies recovered was that of a girl aged two to three. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News