The family of Cadet Kyle Punsalang, a 22-year-old student from Davao City, was worried when the ferry MV Trisha Kerstin began to sink early Monday morning. He was one of more than 300 passengers aboard the ship en route to Jolo, Sulu.
In his last message, Kyle said: "Our ship is capsizing. Tabanggggg!" it was sent at 12:56 a.m. on January 26, 2026. Even before the incident, he informed the family that the ferry was fully booked and full of passengers, so the alarm spread quickly.
According to his brother JP Punsalang, he took to social media to ask for help in finding Kyle and to appeal for the strengthening of search and rescue operations. “He was part of the cadets on duty at the time of the incident. He contacted us regularly. If not the LGU, maybe from the Coast Guard or people near the port could help us locate him,” JP said.
The incident has raised concerns among local and maritime authorities in Southwestern Mindanao, who immediately dispatched a rescue team to search for survivors and ensure the safety of passengers. The cause of the ferry sinking is still under investigation.
Meanwhile, the family and the community continue to call on all those who are able to help. A quick rescue operation and coordination between the local government and the Coast Guard are the main steps for safety and immediate response to the incident.
