Nixon Alonzo, chief of disaster reduction and management office in Basilan province, said the ferry was headed to Zamboanga City from Jolo when it caught fire in the waters off Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhammad town of Basilan province past 10 pm local time on March 29.
Seven passengers who jumped into the sea remained missing. At least 195 passengers and 35 crew members have been rescued, he added.
The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed the incident, saying it deployed personnel and its vessels to help in the search and rescue operations but did not give details about the casualties.