A man identified as a passenger of the fire-hit MV Lady Mary Joy 3 was found dead in the vicinity waters off Langgas Island in Maluso, Basilan on Easter Sunday, April 9, exactly 10 days after the sea blaze.

(Photo courtesy of PCG)

The body of Alses Hassan was recovered by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel around 9 a.m. as they continued search, rescue, and retrieval (SRR) operations in Basilan.

Hassan was one of the two previously reported missing persons who were the subject of SRR operations of the PCG.

With the development, the death toll already rose to 32, of which, 15 bodies were recovered at sea while 17 others were found om oard the burnt vessel.

Meanwhile, only one passenger remains missing while 216 others were rescued by the PCG. The identity of the remaining missing person was not disclosed by the authorities.

"The PCG continues its (search and rescue) operation to look for the last missing passenger of the ill-fated vessel," the PCG said.

PCG personnel turned over the cadaver to the municipal disaster risk reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Maluso for proper disposition.

It can be recalled that MV Lady Mary Joy 3, with 249 individuals onboard, caught fire while sailing off Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan last March 30.

Investigation points to a possible faulty electrical wiring in a room at the vessel's cabin as the cause of the fire, which quickly spread to the kitchen.