The accident has claimed the lives of 52 passengers, crew, and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel.
On Wednesday, February 11, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), led by Secretary Giovanni Lopez said that they will be filing charges for the alleged negligence and safety lapses over the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank off the waters in Basilan in late January.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, mas lalo na po sa mga naging biktima ng trahedyang ito, makaka-asa po kayo na ang pamunuan ng Kagawaran ng Transportasyon, pati po ng Coast Guard, MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority), ay personal po naming tututukan itong kasong ito,” he said.
During the same briefing, Lopez pointed out that the ferry, which had over 360 passengers according to an estimate, MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was able to sail despite its glaring safety deficiencies in its passenger capacity certification, drydock/repair compliance and seaworthiness certification.
“Bakit pinayagan o bakit binigyan ng safety certificate ang MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sa kabila ng kanilang safety deficiencies na nakita. Bakit pinayagan makapaglayag ang MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sa kabila ng mga safety violations noong araw na ‘yun?“
Among the issues found by MARINA investigators, he said, include overloading of both the passengers and cargoes, and the non-utilization of the weigh bridge at the Global Port Zamboanga Terminal by rolling cargoes and private vehicles.
There were also inconsistencies on the number of people in the Passenger Manifest as against the actual number of passengers on board, which made the exact tally of victims of the incident being unknown.
Lopez further lamented, “Bakit paulit-ulit na lang ang Aleson Shipping Lines sa mga ganitong insidente? Ano ba ang ginawa niya para ayusin ang kanilang pagkukulang?”, with him referencing another vessel, Lady Mary Joy 3, that capsized on almost the same route in 2023 that cost the lives of 31 people.
In line with the incident in January, Secretary Lopez has ordered thr filing of charges against the assenger and cargo firm Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc., while personnel from MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard will be relieved from duty.
“Kung lumabas sa pagdinig ng administrative cases nila na meron silang matinding kapabayaan sa kanilang tungkulin, we will not hesitate also to file criminal cases against them for possible violations of RA 3019, ‘yung sinasabi nating Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” he said.
The transport chief said a Department Order will be issued by the DOTr for risk-based categorization of ships, as well as the routes.
These are part of the agency’s corrective measures to ensure the observance of strict passenger and vessel safety to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
Some of those include how life vests must be placed under the ships’ seats to ensure ready access to personal flotation devices, with the availability of inflatable life racks at all times must also be ensured.
“’Yun yung mga gagawin naming pagbabago—mga short term, medium term, long term [measures]. But as we go along, maglalabas pa kami ng mga iba’t-ibang polisiya [on enforcement],” he added.
Aleson Shipping Lines has not yet issued any statement regarding the statement made by Secretary Giovanni Lopez.