Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday expressed her condolences to the families of passengers who died after the ferry they were riding sank in waters off Basilan.

“Ikinalulungkot ko ang trahedyang sinapit ng barkong MV Trisha Kerstin 3 na lumubog sa karagatan malapit sa Baluk-Baluk Island, Basilan, kahapon,” Duterte said in a statement.

“Kami sa Tanggapan ng Pangalawang Pangulo ay lubos na nakikiramay sa mga pamilya at mga naiwang mahal sa buhay ng mga nasawi sa insidenteng ito,” she added.

The Vice President also called for prayers for passengers who remain missing and are the subject of ongoing search and rescue operations.

“Ipinapanalangin din namin ang kaligtasan at lakas ng loob ng mga rescuer na patuloy na naglilingkod sa kabila ng hamon at panganib sa karagatan,” Duterte said.

At least 18 passengers were killed in the maritime accident, while 10 others remain missing, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

The vessel, which was carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members, sank while en route from Zamboanga City to Jolo, Sulu at around 1:50 a.m. on Monday, January 26.