Authorities are intensifying their investigation into the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 ferry disaster, focusing on safety violations, vessel replacement and regulatory compliance, amid reports that the sunken ship may not have been the originally scheduled vessel for the voyage on 29 January. Early survivor accounts point to potential overloading, inaccessible life vests, and missing names on the passenger manifest, raising serious safety concerns. Director Luisito delos Santos, spokesperson for the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), said the initial probe — based on interviews with survivors — suggests that the ferry that sank northeast of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan was a replacement vessel, not the one originally assigned. 

Ayeng, R., & Lacson, N. E. (2026, February 2). Ferry disaster: Ship swap, safety lapses probed. Daily Tribune, pp. A1, A2.