Basilan ferry deaths draw focus to Aleson Shipping’s political ties

With 29 confirmed fatalities days after M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 sank off Basilan on Monday, January 26, Mindanao-based Aleson Shipping Lines is once again under fire. The tragedy has prompted the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to ground the entire passenger fleet of the company that has managed to keep its dominance despite being linked to 32 maritime incidents since 2019. 

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said that aside from the shipping company, accountability must also be expected from government authorities for any possible shortcomings. (READ: DOTr grounds entire Aleson passenger fleet as ferry probe begins)

“If we exact accountability from the ship owners, we are going to exact higher accountability from those in government,” Lopez said. “When it comes to maritime safety, that is not negotiable; that is not optional. Business considerations are just secondary.”

Bangsamoro Transition Authority Member Naguib Sinarimbo welcomed the DOTr’s decision to suspend the firm’s fleet, highlighting that the incident far exceeded a mere accident, which demands justice and accountability.

“Those responsible for ensuring vessel safety, enforcing maritime regulations, and executing effective rescue operations must be held fully accountable. The loss of life under calm sea conditions underscores the urgent need to examine possible operational failures, regulatory neglect, or negligence,” Sinarimbo said.

The regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) also called for a thorough and transparent investigation.

“We call on the concerned authorities to undertake a thorough investigation to prevent the recurrence of similar tragedies,” read a statement from BARMM interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.

Like BARMM officials, the Muslim Lawyers Group in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (MLZ) asserted that when accidents occur repeatedly – as seen in the case of Aleson Shipping Lines – “they cease to be mere accidents and become a failure of responsibility.”

In a statement, the lawyers’ group emphasized that the tragedy should result in a congressional inquiry. The group said transparency is vital, particularly because Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso of Zamboanga City, where Aleson is based, has ties to the shipping lines, and the disaster, based on several accounts, occurred under calm sea conditions.

Olaso’s ties with Aleson

Upon review of documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Rappler found that Olaso’s family has a stake in the company. 

The company’s latest General Information Sheet from November 2025 lists Olaso’s wife, Mary Joy A. Tan-Olaso, among its stakeholders. Mary Joy holds 24.75% of the shares, which amounts to at least P19.8 million. 

Over DZXL-Radio Mindanao Network, Olaso confirmed that his wife is a part owner of Aleson, but denied he has anything to do with its current business dealings and operations. His wife is a member of the family behind the embattled shipping company.

Olaso, however, said he once worked for Aleson as a ship captain, superintendent, and operations manager.

He strongly denied using his power to influence the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in favor of the shipping company.

“I am not in control of the Coast Guard; I have no control of Marina…. That’s unfair to me…. I will not accept that…. I am very straightforward,” Olaso said.

This connection, however, draws renewed attention to a March 2023 incident where another Aleson-owned vessel caught fire in the waters off Basilan, resulting in over 30 deaths. At the time, Olaso, who was then a Zamboanga City congressman, attributed the blaze to a defective light bulb in an unused cabin.

“Later on, when it was reported, the fire reached the bridge and it was already a big fire,” Olaso said in 2023. “According to the officers, they tried to put out the fire, but [it] spread so fast. Most likely the crew failed to [stop it with an] extinguishing system; perhaps they also panicked.”

Legislative agenda

Olasa’s congressional records show a focused legislative agenda for the maritime sector, proposing significant shifts in industry policies. This includes several bills that could directly or indirectly affect Aleson Shipping Lines. 

According to the House database, these House bills remained pending in their respective committees. These include:

• HB 04592: Allowing shipping companies to renew and revalidate competency certificates for seafarers currently on board via online platforms.
• HB 04596: Establishing Zamboanga City Port Authority. 
• HB 04594: Amending RA No. 10635 to update Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) of the Marina.
• HB 02301: Implementing an administrative restructuring and reorganizing of the PCG.

In the Philippines, Marina and the PCG are the primary agencies that strictly govern regulations regarding the use of old, dilapidated, or repurposed vessels. Meanwhile, local governments like that of Zamboanga City hold overlapping jurisdiction concerning environmental safety and vessel disposal.

This means that Aleson’s continuous expansion and acquisition of shipping and passenger vessels since the 1990s have been largely governed by Marina and PCG regulations and inspections.

“Maritime transport remains a lifeline for the people of Mindanao and our island communities. When that lifeline fails, we owe the victims more than sympathy. We owe them justice. We owe them reform. We owe them the assurance that no family will endure the same loss again. We owe it to those who perished  not only to mourn, but to act,” Sinarimbo said. – Rappler.com