The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday, April 9, said it had already retrieved another cadaver of the missing passenger onboard the M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 that caught fire in the water of Basilan.

In its latest update, PCG said the body of Alses Hassan was found floating in the vicinity waters off Langgas Island in Maluso, Basilan at about 9 am.

His body is now in the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) Maluso for proper disposition.

The Coast Guard said its search and rescue/retrieval (SAR) operations for the last missing passenger continue.

With the recovery of Hassan’s remains, the death toll rose to 32. Of these, 15 individuals were retrieved at sea and 17 were recovered inside the vessel.

According to PCG’s latest data, 249 individuals were affected by the fire incident — 205 passengers (20 were Army personnel), 35 crew members, 5 other Army men, and 4 PCG personnel.

The M/V Mary Joy 3 plying Jolo, Sulu, caught fire in Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan at about 11 pm on March 29.