JOLO, Sulu — Sulu Vice Governor Abdusakur M. Tan on Friday expressed strong support for the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) disciplinary action against personnel involved in the fatal sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, calling the move “overdue justice” for victims.

The PCG issued a verdict Thursday dismissing four officers without honor, demoting one and suspending two others for negligence. The sanctions follow a probe into the 26 January disaster, which claimed 65 lives when the ferry capsized off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan.

“The PCG’s actions send a clear message: negligence will not be tolerated,” Tan said. “However, these are not just numbers; they are our kin, pulled from the sea in agony. Accountability must not end with government personnel.”

The Coast Guard Inspector General and Internal Affairs Service found that operational lapses, including inadequate pre-departure checks and failure to verify passenger manifests, contributed to the tragedy.

The four personnel dismissed without honor were identified as PO1 Sabhal Turaini, PO3 Khalid Asmawil, PO3 Al-Yazar Muyong, and ASW Mar-Iya Anawie. The four served as the Pre-Departure Inspection team and were found to have failed in independently verifying passenger counts and load line markings.

Additionally, PO3 Jestoni T. Barretto was demoted for a lack of due diligence. Two station commanders in Zamboanga City, LCDR Tristan Jener Q. Erediano and LT Jason Pagbonocan, were suspended for one year without pay and ordered to undergo mandatory retraining in operational management.