Families of missing M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 passengers demand faster search ops 

The families of the missing passengers of the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 are seeking justice and demanding larger rescue operations after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that the only missing individuals were crew members, while 11 bodies have been found although only 10 are officially listed as missing.

In Jonathan Andal’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the families of the passengers who have yet to be found gathered together in Zamboanga City together with the photos of their missing loved ones. 

“Oo, naiintindihan namin na sampu lang yung dumarating sa kanila. Pero at the same time, sana makinig sila sa mga tao, sa public, na more or less 60 pa ang missing,” said Shai-rah Asibun. 

(Yes, we understand that they are only receiving reports of ten [missing]. But at the same time, I hope they listen to the people, to the public, that more or less 60 people are still missing.)

“Baka mamaya kapag nahanap nila yung sampu, eh hindi na hahanapin yung iba kasi yung nakalagay sa missing person ay sampu lang. Eh paano naman kaming kamag-anak,” another relative said. 

(Later on, if they find those ten, they might stop looking for the others because the missing person list only says ten. What about us, the relatives?) 

“Kailangan namin ng hustisya. Hustisya ang kailangan namin,” one hopeful family member lamented. 

(We need justice. Justice is what we need.) 

The families also demanded more rescuers to hasten the search operations. 

“Yung Coast Guard isa lang. Ang lawak ng dagat, dapat marami silang dine-deploy na boats, speedboats,” said Asibun. 

(The Coast Guard only has one [vessel]. The sea is so vast; they should be deploying many boats and speedboats.) 

Among the missing passengers is Sharia court judge Alberto Romoros. 

“Nanawagan kami sa gobyerno, sa Supreme Court na yung suporta, at saka lalong-lalo na sa BARRM, tumulong po sila sa pag-rescue,” said Raimonah Abunakar Romoros, the judge’s wife. 

(We are calling on the government, the Supreme Court, for support, and especially to the BARMM, please help with the rescue.) 

Romoros serves as a presiding judge in four Sharia courts in various provinces, including Jolo, Sulu, where he was traveling to. 

The families also said there has been no communication from any representatives of Aleson Shipping Lines, the owner of MV Trisha Kerstin 3. 

“Pumunta kami sa opisina ng Aleson. Sarado ang opisina, ticketing office. They should talk to us. Pero ano ang ginagawa? Pinagtataguan kami,” said survivor Aquino Sajili, who is also the president of Muslim Lawyer Association of Zamabasulta. 

(We went to the office of Aleson. The office and the ticketing office were closed. They should talk to us. But what are they doing? They are hiding from us.) 

11 more bodies recovered 

The number of fatalities rose to 29 after 11 more bodies were recovered during the search operations. The bodies suddenly floated in the waters near Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan. 

Among the bodies recovered were a child and one is wearing a coverall suit, which suggests that he could be a crew member. 

The number of bodies recovered is higher than PCG’s official count of 10 missing individuals. 

Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao commander Commodore Rejard Marfe said the 10 missing individuals are based on the passenger manifest provided by Aleson Shipping. 

“Ibig sabihin there is a possibility na mayroong sumakay na hindi kasama sa manifest. There is also a possibility na baka doon sa mga survivors natin is baka nadoble-doble yung lista natin. Or most likely baka mayroong din hindi talaga kasama doon sa pasahero,” said Marfe. 

(This means there is a possibility that there were people who boarded who were not included in the manifest. There is also a possibility that among our survivors, the list might have been duplicated. Or most likely, there are those who really weren't included in the passenger [list].) 

Meanwhile, the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 has yet to be found as well. 

The remotely-operated vehicle has yet to see any trace of the sunken vessel despite already reaching the seabed. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News