Searchers find 11 more bodies in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Local searchers and fishermen yesterday found 11 more bodies, believed to be among the missing passengers in the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 off Hadji Muhtammad town in Basilan.

The remains have yet to be identified through forensic examination, but the searchers said that some were teachers and one was a crewmember, citing the uniforms they wore.

The recovery brought the number of fatalities to 29 people.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the exact number of missing people has yet to be established as more families report missing relatives. The PCG, citing the boat’s passenger manifest, initially said only 10 people were missing – eight crewmembers, the boat captain and a PCG sea marshal.

At least 316 survivors were rescued from the ill-fated ship.

The local searchers said they tagged the discovered cadavers with buoys to make it easier for the PCG rescuers to find and retrieve the bodies, which were described as all bloated and in a state of decomposition.

The PCG said the BRP Tubbataha located and retrieved the remains of seven women, a child in pajamas and three men, including a boat crew.

A technical diving team, led by Commander Cheska Jamorol, deployed a remotely operated vehicle yesterday to locate the sunken boat’s location.

Although there is no actual sighting yet, the Trisha Kerstin 3 is believed to be lying 76 meters below the surface.

Jamorol said the 19-member team will perform a technical diving operation to determine if more victims were trapped inside the ship.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) issued special permits for the six routes affected by the suspension of Aleson Shipping Lines, which owns Trisha Kerstin 3.

The PCG said BRP Capones is offering free rides for passengers along the Zamboanga City-Lamitan route, with priority given to the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and children.

Earlier, the Marina said it had set up a help desk to assist victims and their families in seeking financial assistance.