Body of last missing passenger in Basilan ferry fire recovered, death toll now 33 —PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday confirmed that the body recovered in the waters off Hadji Mohammad Adjul, Basilan on Tuesday was the last missing passenger of the fire-hit MV Lady Mary Joy.

In an update, the PCG identified the recovered body as Private First Class Marion Malda, one of the Philippine Army soldiers on board the vessel.

MV Lady Mary Joy 3 was en route to Jolo, Sulu from Zamboanga City on March 29 when it caught fire at around 10:40 p.m. The blaze was declared fire out at 7:30 a.m. on March 30.

To save the passengers, the captain brought the vessel to Baluk-Maluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town.

According to the PCG, 216 people survived the incident.

Mayor Arsina Kahing-Nanoh of Hadji Muhtamad town earlier said an inaccurate manifest is making it difficult for authorities to conduct search, rescue, and retrieval operations on the vessel.

The PCG earlier said the fire supposedly started in the accommodation area on the second deck of the vessel. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News