PCG rescues 225 from distressed ferry near Pangasahan Island

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued 225 people from a distressed wooden ferry off Basilan on Monday morning, just 11 kilometers from the site where another vessel sank last week.

The M/L AS Express 2 was traveling from Banguingui, Sulu, to Zamboanga City when its hydraulic steering and rudder system locked at approximately 4:47 a.m. The failure caused the 12-meter vessel to drift into shallow waters near Pangasahan Island, where its hull scraped against reefs.

Commodore Rejard Marfe, commander of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, said the BRP Tubbataha reached the site at 5:54 a.m. The crew transferred 128 passengers to the Coast Guard vessel, while the remaining 82 passengers and 15 crew members stayed aboard the ferry as it was towed to Zamboanga City.

No fatalities or major injuries were reported, though 10 passengers were treated on-site for minor hypothermia. Marfe said initial findings indicate the vessel was operating within its allowable capacity and that internal pressure buildup likely caused the mechanical failure.

The rescue occurred as the Coast Guard continued search and retrieval operations for the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which sank on 26 January.

The death toll from that tragedy rose to 43 on Monday after three additional bodies — including an infant and two adults — were recovered in an advanced state of decomposition near Baluk-Baluk Island and Mataja Point.

Among the 43 confirmed dead is Seaman First Class Alkhaizar Hadjail, a Coast Guard member who died while assisting passengers during the sinking.

“We’re not stopping until every soul is accounted for,” Marfe said. “The families deserve answers and closure.”

On Tuesday morning, the Coast Guard escalated its retrieval efforts by deploying advanced side-scan sonar to locate the hull of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, estimated to be 76 meters deep. Previous attempts using remotely operated vehicles were hampered by strong underwater currents and low visibility.

The Maritime Industry Authority is investigating the sinking, while the M/L AS Express 2 remains grounded pending a seaworthiness inspection.