An Ilonggo apprentice of the ill-fated M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 survives.

The roll-on-roll-off (ro-ro) vessel sunk in the waters of Basilan.

Carl Louis Balontong, the apprentice, is set to come home to Oton, Iloilo. He is a resident of Barangay Cabanbanan. 

His father, Reynold, said he felt uneasy morning on January 26, 2026.

Later, he learned that the ro-ro vessel figured in a sea mishap dawn that day. The shipping company first broke out the news on the incident, and the news that Carl is rescued. Afterwhich, Carl himself told his family that he is safe.

“Mga ala una. (sabi ko) bakit ka umiiyak, ma? Sabi niya, si toto, pa. (sabi) ko anong nangyari sa kanya? Sabi niya, nalunod ang kanilang barko. Ngunit sabi niya okay naman siya dahil na-rescue sila,” Reynold, his father, said.

It was learned that Carl was already asleep when the incident happened. He woke up feeling the seeping water. He rushed out and decided to jump off the ship.

“Pagkaramdam niya na parang basa na siya, lumabas siya. Kinuha niya ang nilalagyan ng kanyang passport at mga papeles at cellphone niya. Iniwanan na niya ang bag,” Reynold added.

Prior to that, Carl fell reportedly on a wing van on board the vessel. He sustained injury on a foot.

He was in the water for about four hours before he was rescued.

Carl told his family that his colleague from Mina, Iloilo was also rescued.

“Pagdating sa kanilang tanggapan, nagkita sila. Sabi niya, pa, nandito si ano, ang kasamahan kong taga-Mina,” Reynold said further.

It was on May 2025 when Carl went aboard M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, serving the Zamboanga City-Jolo route. He was about to disembark by May 2026.

M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 had 344 passengers and crew members at the time of the incident.

According to the Office of Civil Defense-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, 19 have been confirmed dead.

Carl's mother traveled morning on January 28 to meet him in Negros Oriental. Carl is set to travel from Zamboanga City.