PASAY CITY—The Senate Committee on Public Services launched a high-stakes inquiry on Thursday, February 12, 2026 to investigate the devastating sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which claimed 52 lives off the coast of Basilan last month. 

Lawmakers aggressively questioned government regulators and shipping executives, uncovering a series of regulatory and operational failures that contributed to the January 26 disaster. 

Chairman of the Committee Senator Raffy Tulfo in his opening speech emphasized that the recent incident was not isolated but rather demonstrated a familiar pattern of unfulfilled promises of maritime reform.

“Sa totoo lang po this is not an isolated incident. For too long, maritime tragedies have powered painful and familiar pattern. Disaster, public outrage, investigation, promises of reform and then wala na.” Senator Tulfo said. 

The hearing served as a blunt reckoning for the maritime industry, with senators demanding accountability for the safety lapses that allowed the vessel to founder.

This probe is fueling a broader legislative push to overhaul public transport safety through the proposed Magna Carta of Commuters. 

By integrating the lessons learned from the Basilan tragedy, the Senate aims to institutionalize the public's right to safe and reliable travel. 

Moving forward, the panel seeks to create stringent new standards that ensure commuter welfare is never again sidelined by negligence, turning this maritime catastrophe into a catalyst for nationwide transport reform.

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