Coast Guard probes possible lapses in MV June Aster fire

Coast Guard probes possible lapses in MV June Aster fire
Jessie Cruzat, September 12, 2026 https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/9/12/coast-guard-probes-possibl...

MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard is investigating possible lapses in the actions of the captain and crew of the MV June Aster, as the death toll from the vessel fire off Coron, Palawan rose to 35.

The PCG on Saturday said it had activated its Maritime Safety Investigation and Maritime Crime Investigation units to determine what caused the fire and whether proper emergency procedures were followed.

Investigators are looking into survivors’ accounts and the actions taken by the ship’s crew before, during and after the incident, PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said.

“We all have the concerned units on board in the area. That's the intention naman po talaga, to determine what's the cause of the incident,” Cayabyab said.

Part of the investigation is to determine whether the ship’s captain issued the appropriate emergency instructions after the fire was reported.

“Supposedly in any incident on board the vessel there should be an emergency procedure and there should be an advisory or a warning or an instruction from the captain of the vessel,” Cayabyab said.

The PCG will also look into possible liabilities involving the captain, crew and shipping company.

“Malaki po ang pananagutan ng kapitan. With the numbers of missing, with the number of casualties, definitely the captain has a big responsibility,” Cayabyab said.

“The captain of the ship is the ship’s captain. Lahat ng kargamento, pasahero, simula po sa kanyang port of origin hanggang port of destination, kailangan, maidala po niya ng safe itong kanyang kargamento,” she added.

CAPTAIN’S WHEREABOUTS BEING VERIFIED

The PCG has yet to officially account for the ship’s captain.

Of the 43 survivors recorded as of 8 a.m. Saturday, 30 were passengers and 13 were crew members.

Cayabyab said the Coast Guard is still verifying whether the captain is among those who survived.

The PCG has received information that a surviving crew member claimed the captain also survived the incident, but Cayabyab said this has yet to be confirmed.

35 DEAD, 54 STILL MISSING

As of 8 a.m. Saturday, the PCG recorded 35 fatalities, 43 survivors and 54 people still missing.

The figures may still change as authorities continue to account for everyone who was aboard the vessel, Cayabyab said.

Two people initially included in the passenger manifest were later confirmed not to have boarded the ship.

The PCG urged relatives of those still missing to coordinate with the local government of Coron and the Coast Guard to help authorities establish the actual number of unaccounted passengers and crew.

“We are just basing these numbers from the ticket manifest submitted to us,” Cayabyab said.

She said families’ coordination with authorities could help ensure that the passenger count is properly verified.