Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Several life jackets on the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 were kept in locked cabinets, according to a survivor.</p><p>Muzaheeda Ismi told the House Committee on Transportation on Thursday that passengers had to force the cabinets open in order to access the life jackets. She added that some jackets were damaged.</p><p>“Nasa aircon accommodation po kami that time, and ‘yung cabinet po ng life jackets naka-lock po. So we had to forcefully open it… Kinailangan din pong sipain ng ibang passenger para ma-open lang po ‘yung lock,” Ismi said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/29/11-floating-bodies-believed-to-be-from-mv-trisha-kerstin-3-recovered-at-sea-2314">11 floating bodies, believed to be from MV Trisha Kerstin 3, recovered at sea</a></div><p>“Pagka-open, pagkakuha po namin ng life jacket namin, eh, naka-double knot po siya. So you won&#x27;t be able to use it agad-agad… and pagka-open po namin ng life jacket, sira po… Wala pong mga whistle din at the same time ‘yung life jacket po namin,” she added.</p><p>1-RIDER Party List Representative Rodge Gutierrez questioned the owner of the vessel over the locked life jackets. An official of the Department of Transportation, meanwhile, sees a possible violation.</p><p>“Mayroon tayong penalties with regard diyan sa lifevests na naka-lock. … There is a violation,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Villamor Plan said.</p><p>“I think it&#x27;s just very basic that it should be the responsibility of the ship owner. I mean, ‘yung life vest, bakit po ila-lock ‘yan? Mahal po ba ‘yun? Magkano ba ‘yun? Tapos, is there fear na ninanakaw po ‘yun? That&#x27;s why I asked, what possible reason would there be for locking a life-saving device? It shouldn’t have a lock to begin with po,” Gutierrez asked.</p><p>“Per SOP bawal po talaga i-lock. Hindi po ‘yun nila-lock… ‘Yung crew, they have to see to it that this is accessible,” Atty. Zoe Goco, legal counsel of Aleson Shipping Lines replied.</p><p>Asked who has managerial supervision over the crew, Goco pointed to the Philippine Coast Guard, saying it has the “final say”. But PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan asserted ship masters are mandated to observe the National Maritime Safety Management Code.</p><p>“If we will do a stringent inspection each time, every time, nagko-complain din po ‘yung industry, because the turnaround of vessels, matagal. So there has to be a balance, Your Honor. For the Coast Guard side, we&#x27;d like to manifest our aspiration that we all support that direction: responsible ship ownership. And the Coast Guard will focus more on enforcement. Hindi po namin kailangan siguro i-baby ‘yung shipping industry. Hindi po sila magma-mature,” Gavan told the panel.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/29/did-a-squall-cause-mv-trisha-kerstin-3-sinking-1401">Did a squall cause MV Trisha Kerstin-3 sinking?</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>TILTING</strong></div><p> Another survivor told the House panel that the ship was already tilting before it left the port.</p><p>“They even talked to the crew members on board. “Sir, bakit tagilid ang barko? Is it ok for us to sail?” And they were assured, “yes, ok lang ‘yan”,” Atty. Aquino Sajili narrated.</p><p>“We cannot help but remember the trauma once again… This is really a hard time for all of us… This is a preventable tragedy, had we only done our job! There is really gross negligence,” he added.</p><p>Congressmen asked whether MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was overloaded before it sank, especially since some passengers were not in the manifest, and PAGASA said weather was generally good at that time.</p><p>The Philippine Coast Guard said based on its latest validated report, the number of passengers was below the vessel’s authorized maximum capacity. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/12/dotr-mv-trisha-kerstin-3-was-carrying-too-many-passengers-and-too-much-cargo-1454">DOTr: MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was carrying too many passengers and too much cargo</a></div><p>“We have 372 all in all, including survivors, recovered cadavers, missing. Ship has an authorized maximum capacity of 352 and allowed to have 24 crew. Or total of 376… Based on the record presented your honor, as validated by ongoing operations on the ground… it is not yet in excess of the authorized maximum passenger capacity and crew… with disclaimer that operations ongoing. Maybe more bodies will be recovered,” Gavan said.</p><p>“Was the water above this threshold line of the vessel, or is it below?” Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez asked.</p><p> “Mr. Chair, lutang po ‘yung Plimsoll mark… approximately 4 to 6 inches,” PCG Boarding Team Leader Sabhal Turaini replied.</p><p>Some lawmakers expressed doubts the vessel was seaworthy, citing its age, which is over 30 years, and some alterations made.</p><p>But MARINA said the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 had “valid safety certificate”, making it “seaworthy”.</p><p>Despite this, Akbayan Partylist Representative Dadah Kiram Ismula urged the Department of Justice to investigate possible criminal negligence on the part of Aleson Shipping Lines following the tragic sinking of M/V Trisha Kerstin 3.</p><p> “Hindi ito accident o force of nature. I smell negligence. I would like also to ask the DOJ. We need to look into possible criminal liability under the public service act of Aleson,” she said.</p><p>“It makes me really angry that this happened and it has been allowed to happen. Ang Doña Paz po ay nangyari pa noong 1987. 39 years have passed. Pareho pa rin and wala nagbago sa sitwasyon. In that particular… tragedy, kulang din sila ng life jackets. In that particular tragedy, overloaded ang ship. In that particular tragedy, ‘yung mga pasaherong wala sa manifest, umabot sa halos kalahati ng nakasakay sa barko… Nothing has changed. There has to be accountability for this,” Akbayan Party List Rep. Chel Diokno added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/1/27/philippine-ferry-survivor-describes-scenes-of-panic-wait-for-rescue-0016" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Philippine ferry survivor describes scenes of panic, wait for rescue</a></div>

<p>Several life jackets on the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 were kept in locked cabinets, according to a survivor.</p>

Several life jackets on the sunken MV Trisha Kerstin 3 were kept in locked cabinets, according to a survivor.

Survivor says life jackets on MV Trisha Kerstin 3 were in locked cabinets

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Survivor says life jackets on MV Trisha Kerstin 3 were in locked cabinets

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 12, 2026 10:55 PM PHT

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MV Trisha Kerstin 3

House of Representatives

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