PHILIPPINE Coast Guard personnel carry a body bag in Zamboanga City, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, after MV Trisha Kerstin 3, an inter-island cargo and passenger ferry, sank. (AP)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Kusug Tausug party-list Rep. Aiman Tan has sought a full and independent investigation on the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in Basilan province last Monday.
In a privilege speech on Tuesday, Tan said an independent probe should determine the cause of the tragedy, the action and alleged inactions of the Philippine Coast Guard, port authorities, and other officials, and the enforcement of maritime safety laws.
Tan said concerned port authorities are explicitly mandated to see to it that vessels are seaworthy, compliant, and safe before they leave the port.
“Let this tragedy be a turning point, not another entry in a long list of forgotten disasters,” Tan said.
Sulu first district Rep. Samier Tan criticized the response of the Zamboanga city government in the tragedy.
“The response of the LGU is so lacking to the extent that members of our staff need to step in to bring passengers to hospitals and shoulder medical expenses. It is not about us aiding that bothers me, but the apparent lack of compassion from the local government unit of Zamboanga City,” Tan said.
Samier asked Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Olaso, a former colleague at the House of Representatives, to take full responsibility for the incident as mayor and ties to Aleson Shipping, a firm belonging to the family of his spouse, Mary Joy Olaso.
Samier criticized the shipping firm which vessels figured in 32 mishaps over the past 10 years based on data provided by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Most of its passengers are from the island-provinces of Sulu and Basilan.