Eighteen people were confirmed dead and 24 were missing after a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferry vessel sank in the waters offshore Pilas Island, Basilan early Monday.
The Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao said this is as of 11:21 a.m., January 26.
In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman said 317 people have been rescued.
He said that according to survivors, the sea was calm when the incident happened.
"Ang kuwento sa akin ng survivors hindi naman daw maalon," he said.
In a separate interview, Commander Romel Duwa, Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao operations officer, said the RORO vessel M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 was not overloaded when the incident happened.
"Malaki po ang capacity nitong RORO, walang overloading. Magbigay po kami ng update (regarding the number of rolling cargoes), ang focus po namin ngayon 'yung rescue operation," he said.
He added some of the survivors were brought to Zamboanga while other were brought to Basilan.
"342 ang nakamanifest na pasahero ng M/V Trisha kerstin 3 bound to Jolo, Sulu... Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi Rajiun (Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return)," Pilas Island, Basilan Mayor Arsina Kahing-Nanoh said in a post on Facebook earlier in the day.
Some passengers have already been rescued, the Basilan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the local government unit of Pilas Island said.
Kahing-Nanoh said some passengers were rescued by the Bantay Dagat of Barangay Baluk-Baluk. They were turned over by the barangay captain to Coast Guard-Basilan and the big vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard.
Hataman posted on his Facebook account a live video of the arrival of some survivors at the pier.
He directed the Basilan PDRRMO and Pilas LGU to coordinate to rescue the passengers of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3.
The vessel is owned by Aleson Shipping Lines Inc.
In an incident report, the Philippine Coast Guard said the vessel submerged while en route to Jolo, Sulu from Zamboaga City at around 1:50 a.m. It was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members when the incident happened approximately 2.75 nautical miles northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan.
The PCG said based on initial investigation, M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 departed the Port of Zamboanga City at around 9:20 p.m. on January 25, "operating within its authorized maximum passenger capacity of 352."
No oil spill has been observed as of this time, according to CGDSWM.
In an interview with Balitanghali, PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said among the factors they are looking at is the effect of the Amihan or Northeast Monsoon to the sea.
“Based po sa initial statement na nakuha natin, nagkaroon naman ng clearance. Wala namang nakataas na gale warning diyan sa area na ‘yan…Ngayon ang nakikita natin na factor is yung Amihan. Kapag Amihan, may possibility na kapag labas natin sa open sea ay talagang maalon sa part na ‘yan. So as to the other reasons or causes ng insidente na ito, that would be subject for investigation po,” Cayabyab said.
(Based on the initial statement we obtained, the vessel was given clearance. There was no gale warning raised in that area… Currently, the factor we are looking at is the Amihan. During the Amihan season, there is a possibility that once you head out to the open sea, it will be very rough in that specific part. So as to the other reasons or causes of this incident, that would be subject to investigation.)
She added the PCG is looking for 28 people still missing.
Meanwhile, Aleson Shipping Lines Inc said it is working tirelessly in close coordination with the PCG and concerned authorities as search and rescue operations continue.
It said it immediately deployed all available vessels in the area upon receiving the distress call.
It also thanked Hataman, Kahing-Nanoh, and other local government units and agencies who "responded without hesitation and offered their invaluable assistance during this critical time."
"Our thoughts and hearts are with everyone who was on board and with their families during this extremely difficult time," it added as it asked for prayers, patience, and understanding.
(With reports from Peewee Bacuño and Vince Angelo Ferreras, GMA Integrated News)
