Kin of missing passengers of sunken M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 keep hope

Families of the missing passengers of the roll-on/roll-off vessel M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank in the waters off Basilan, continue to hold on to hope that their loved ones will still be found.

According to Jonathan Andal’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said there are now 10 individuals still missing following the incident.

Hermelyn Sawaba said she is trying to remain optimistic that her daughter, Dina, is still alive.

“Kung sino man po ang nakapulot sa kanya, kasi hanggang ngayon missing pa rin po siya. Pero alam po namin na buhay pa rin po siya hanggang ngayon,” she said as she showed a photo of her daughter on her phone.

(To whoever may have found her, because until now she is still missing. But we believe that she is still alive.)

Hermelyn said Dina was with her uncle, his wife, and their infant child aboard the vessel. The three others were already found, including the infant, who died.

“Kung buhay man o patay, dapat talagang tanggapin natin. Kung ano man ang nangyari sa kanya,” she added.

(Whether alive or dead, we really have to accept it—whatever may have happened to her.)

Meanwhile, Mudar Hajirol said he is also searching for seven relatives who were aboard the vessel, including his wife.

“Asawa ko po si Rija Hajirol, pati auntie ko po si Balma Hajirol at asawa niya na si Jiro Hajirol; pati sina Alma, Junhar, at Ronron Hajirol. Ikapito po yung batang maliit, dalawang taon,” he said.

(My wife, Rija Hajirol; my aunt Balma Hajirol and her husband Jiro Hajirol; as well as Alma, Junhar, and Ronron Hajirol. The seventh is a small child, two years old.)

Mudar said his relatives were initially supposed to board a different vessel but were later transferred to M/V Trisha Kerstin 3.

“Sabi ng bayaw ko, confirmed na sumakay sila sa Trisha. Tinignan po namin ang listahan ng missing, wala po sila roon. Kaya ang tanong ko po, nasaan ang pamilya ko? Nandoon po sa manifest ang pangalan ng pamilya ko,” he said.

(My brother-in-law confirmed they boarded the Trisha. We checked the list of missing, and they’re not there. So my question is, where is my family? Their names are on the manifest.)

The Philippine Army also confirmed that one of its members, Sgt. Wendell Sabuyas, remains missing.

A colleague who survived the incident said they were on their way to Jolo.

“Ginising siya ng kasama namin. Hindi ko na po alam kung nagising siya o hindi. Hindi na po namin mahanap si Sgt. Sabuyas,” said PVT Elmer Malinao.

(Our companion tried to wake him up. I don’t know if he woke up or not anymore. We can no longer find Sgt. Sabuyas.)

However, the PCG clarified that the 10 missing individuals are not passengers but consist of eight crew members, the ship’s captain, and a PCG personnel who served as sea marshal during the voyage.

“We are basing this on the manifest submitted to us. If there are indeed other missing individuals, that will be part of the results of our investigation, which would indicate that there were people not listed in the manifest,” said Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao commander Commodore Rejard Marfe.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, who visited Zamboanga City, said all 24 passenger vessels of Aleson Shipping Lines—the owner of the sunken RORO—have been ordered grounded temporarily.

The suspension will remain in effect until the vessels pass inspections to be conducted by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the PCG. Lopez said the company’s permit may be suspended or revoked if violations are found.

“They are now grounded. MARINA and the PCG have 10 days to conduct a maritime safety audit, compliance check, and inspection,” Lopez said.

He added that if the investigation finds shortcomings on the part of government personnel, appropriate action—including dismissal and the filing of cases—will be taken, the same as with those on the ship owner’s side.

Lopez further said Aleson Shipping Lines has been involved in 32 maritime incidents since 2019.

In the meantime, the Department of Transportation has requested the PCG to offer free rides on routes exclusively served by Aleson Shipping. MARINA was also ordered to issue special permits to other shipping lines.

Snapped lashing?

Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso, a former ship captain and husband of one of the owners of Aleson Shipping Lines, said the incident may have been caused by a snapped lashing—a steel cable used to secure cargo on RORO vessels.

“Siguro hindi kinaya ng lashing materials. Baka mabigat ang truck, posibleng overcapacity. Pumutok ang lashing, gumalaw ang barko, sumabay ang truck at tumagilid. Nagkaroon ng angle of loll hanggang sa tuluyang lumubog ang barko,” he said.

(Perhaps the lashing materials couldn’t hold. The truck may have been too heavy or overcapacity. When the lashing snapped, the ship rolled, the truck tilted, causing an angle of loll, until the vessel eventually sank.)

For its part, the PCG said it is not ruling out any possible cause of the sinking, including a squall—a sudden increase in wind speed often accompanied by heavy rain.

“In this area of Bucal-Bucal and near Bilas Island, squalls usually occur. We are also checking that possibility,” said PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab.

The PCG also said it has deployed oil spill booms and oil dispersants after a thin sheen of oil was detected on the water.

“As of now, there is nothing to worry about. Normally, the oil stays only on the surface,” said PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA Integrated News