Senator Raffy Tulfo on Thursday announced that the Senate Committee on Public Services will conduct a hearing into the sinking of passenger-cargo vessel M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, following allegations of negligence and unsafe conditions raised by survivors.
Tulfo said survivors, through Senator Robin Padilla, described alarming conditions aboard the vessel even before it sailed, including claims that it was already in poor shape and possibly overloaded.
“The facilities of MV Trisha were already in a dilapidated condition, particularly the restrooms, whose walls could easily collapse, as well as stairways that were heavily rusted,” said survivor Nur Hussein Sali.
Sali also recalled that prior to departure, the ship appeared “heavy” and “overloaded,” citing the volume of cargo and passengers he personally observed.
The vessel, bound for Jolo, Sulu, sank on January 26 in waters off Basilan. The Philippine Coast Guard has so far reported 45 casualties from the incident.
Concerns were also raised over an allegedly flawed ticketing system. Lawyer Aquino Sajili, president of the Philippine Muslim Lawyers Association in ZamBaSulTa, said some passengers were reportedly forced to buy overpriced tickets from scalpers.
Tulfo earlier urged the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to investigate the incident and submit its findings to the Senate. As of Thursday, search and rescue operations were ongoing in waters off Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan.