Philippine authorities are investigating the crew of two vessels that allegedly passed by a sinking ferry without offering help, while some passengers reportedly snapped pictures, the coast guard said today.

A Philippine ferry capsized today on its way to a resort town south of Manila, killing at least 12 people, including a Japanese tourist, officials said.

An al Qaida agent suspected of masterminding the September 11 attacks was in the Philippines in the mid-1990s, plotting terror and chasing women, Manila police said.