The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed on Thursday that the cadaver found in Barangay Sulutan Matangal, Basilan is the last missing passenger of the M/V Lady Mary Joy 3.
The body identified as Marion Malda, a Private First Class (PFC) in the Philippine Army, has been retrieved on Tuesday, April 11.
His body was found floating in the waters of Barangay Sulutan Matangal, Hadji Mohammad Adjul in Basilan.
The death toll due to the ferry fire incident is now 33.
At about 11 pm on March 29, passenger vessel M/V Mary Joy 3 plying Jolo, Sulu, caught fire in the waters of Baluk-Baluk Island, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.
About 249 individuals were affected— 205 passengers (20 were Army men), 35 crew members, 5 other Army personnel, and 4 PCG personnel, according to Coast Guard's latest data.
Of the 249, 216 passengers survived the fire incident.