Basilan ferry sinking death toll now 31 as more bodies recovered

The number of deaths in the sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry near Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan has increased to 31 following the retrieval of two more bodies in the ongoing search and rescue operations.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported the development late Friday afternoon, adding that there were 316 survivors. Its latest bulletin, however, did not indicate how many were still missing.

The two newly recovered bodies will be turned over to the Basilan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) in Zamboanga City for identification.

"Pagkarating sa Zamboanga City, sasailalim sa retrieval procedure ang mga labi, sa pangunguna ng PDRRMO upang matukoy ang kanilang pagkakakilanlan at mapagbigay-alam sa kanilang mga pamilya," the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in a statement on Facebook.

(Upon arrival in Zamboanga City, the PDRRMO will lead the retrieval procedure on the remains to confirm their identities and inform the families of the deceased.)

The PCG told GMA News Online that the remains of the 31 fatalities as of posting time have all been recovered.

On Thursday, 11 bodies were found by residents, fishermen, relatives, and Coast Guard personnel off Baluk-Baluk Island.

Of this number, at least nine bodies were claimed by their kin, Basilan authorities said.

The PCG, for its part, reiterated it cited the ship manifesto on the figures and raised the possibility that some passengers boarded the vessel even despite not being included in the document.

Meanwhile, the PCG said BRP Melchora Aquino has been deployed to intensify the search and rescue operations on the victims of MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank in the waters off Pilas Island, Basilan on January 26. — VDV, GMA Integrated News