By Brian Campued
“Dapat may [managot]. Ang paglubog [namin ay] hindi aksidente.”
This was the call made by a survivor of the sunken M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 as he recounted the harrowing incident when the roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry capsized near Basilan in the wee hours of Jan. 26.
In an exclusive interview with PTV News, Nur Hussein Sali, 62 years old, said the weather was fine when the ferry bound for Jolo, Sulu departed Zamboanga City around 9:20 p.m. on Jan. 25.
However, when he went into the toilet, he noticed something wrong.
“Doon sa CR na yon, meron isang tile na nakauka, baka mabagsakan yung paa ko,” Nur Hussein, who was with his aunt, two siblings, cousin, and his lawyer, recalled.
“Nung tinusok ko ng kamay ko, lumusot yung kamay ko sa dingding ng CR, napagtanto ko na ang barko na ito ay bulok.”
Hours later, at 1:50 a.m., the passenger ferry issued a distress call, prompting authorities and volunteers to respond to the incident.
According to the first incident report of the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao, the ship was carrying about 332 passengers and 27 crew members when it began to tilt and take in water.
“Split seconds, pumasok yung tubig. Kasama ko, ako, ate kong isa, tiyahin ko, bumulusok kami hanggang sa baba,” Nur Hussein narrated.
He added that he was holding his sibling as tight as he could, but the current was too strong, “Hila-hila ko ang kapatid ko, hihilahin ko siya… Ang last words niya sa akin, sabi niya, ‘Tol ‘wag mo akong pabayaan, i-save mo ako’.”
“Hindi ko siya mahila, siguro naipit yung paa niya sa grills… Nong bumitaw na siya sa akin dahan-dahan, sabi ko wala na, nalunod na ang kapatid ko.”
Nur Hussein said he clung to a life raft and floated in the middle of the sea for three hours until his rescue.
Four days later, the remains of his sibling were retrieved alongside his aunt’s.
As of Wednesday, Feb. 4, total fatalities rose to 45, while the number of survivors stayed at 316. The joint search and rescue operations were carried out by various government agencies, local government units, and fisherfolk volunteers.
Following the sinking, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) immediately grounded Aleson Shipping Lines’ entire passenger fleet as an investigation into the incident began. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) likewise conducted a maritime safety audit of the company. (with report from Gab Humilde Villegas / PTV News)
-jpv
