MV June Aster not overcrowded, passed safety tests ahead of Coron fire -- PCG

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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday said the ill-fated MV June Aster passed mandated safety checks and was not overcrowded when it caught fire in Coron, Palawan.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab reported this in a press briefing, saying that 117 passengers and 17 crew members on the ship's manifest, totaling to 134 people aboard.

On the other hand, the MV June Aster had a maximum passenger capacity of 333—more than double the listed individuals.

Cayabyab has not ruled out the possibility that there were more passengers that what was listed, given how people many the vessel can accommodate.

Asked if there were enough life jackets aboard, Cayabyab also said that there were.

"As to the videos na lumalabas po na nakuha natin, or na-rescue natin 'yung ibang survivors na wala pong suot na life jacket, based po on the testimony na napakabilis po ng pagkalat ng apoy," Cayabyab said.

(As to the videos circulating or the rescued survivors without a life jacket, based on their testimonies, it was because of how fast the fire spread.)

Other survivors recalled in their statements that right after the explosion, some people jumped into the water immediately, she added.

"As to the question if there's enough life jackets onboard, meron po (there were)," Cayabyab said.

On June 10, the MV June Aster even underwent an Emergency and Readiness Evaluation test, which it passed. The test included a firefighting drill.

"Ang question na lang po natin ngayon is, after the incident happened, ano po ba ang naging reaction at ano po ba ang ginawa ng crew at kapitan?" Cayabyab said.

(Our question now is, after the incident, what was the reaction and what did the crew do?)

The PCG is still searching for the ship's captain who, despite being reported alive by the shipping company Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., was not on the list of survivors. The Coast Guard said the captain has liability over the incident.

Cayabyab said authorities are still determining the cause of the fire, and they have not ruled anything out yet. It was said to have started from the ship's cargo hold.

At least 35 individuals have been confirmed dead, with about 54 others still unaccounted for. Authorities have counted 43 survivors so far as of posting time. — VDV, GMA News