Lawmakers from Mindanao have called for charges against the owner of MV Trisha Kerstin following the vessel’s sinking in Basilan waters that left at least 18 people dead, as allegations surfaced linking Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso to the shipping company involved.

During separate privilege speeches in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Mindanaoan congressmen expressed condolences to the families of the victims and demanded accountability over the maritime tragedy.

Sulu Representative Samier Tan alleged that Mayor Olaso is a part owner of Aleson Shipping Lines, the company that owns the ill-fated RoRo vessel. Tan insisted that Olaso bears responsibility and stressed the need to deliver justice to the victims’ families, citing what he described as repeated incidents involving Aleson vessels that have either sunk or caught fire while operating in various parts of Mindanao.

Basilan Representative Yusop Alano also raised concern over what he called a troubling pattern, noting at least three major incidents involving Aleson Shipping in the past decade, including the sinking of MV Danica Joy 2 in 2016 and the 2023 fire that engulfed Lady Mary 3, killing 31 people.

Meanwhile, Kusug Tausug Party-list Representative Aiman Tan called for a full and independent investigation into the latest incident to determine liability and prevent similar maritime disasters.