Speed upidentification of ferry fire victims – President Marcos

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) says joint authorities reported an initial count of 30 cadavers recovered on board MV June Aster on September 11, 2026, following the declaration of fire out and subsequent safety assessment.

Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard | via Bella Cariaso

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has ordered government agencies to mobilize specialists and resources to expedite the identification and transport of victims of the ferry fire in Coron, Palawan.

Citing official reports, Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos said only five of the 76 confirmed fatalities in a fire involving the MV June Aster had been identified.

Abalos led a meeting with national government agencies and local officials in Coron yesterday on the directive of the President, who was in New Delhi, India for the 18th BRICS Summit.

“The President’s order is to deliver all help needed. We must mobilize the specialists, resources and funding needed to identify the victims as quickly and accurately as possible,” Abalos said.

Forensic personnel are extracting molar teeth from the remains because dental tissue may still provide DNA samples that can be used for identification, according to Abalos, citing the Philippine National Police Forensics Unit.

The PNP Forensics Unit requested augmentation of forensic odontologists from national headquarters, as only one specialist was available to perform the extraction procedure.

Volunteer dentists have since begun assisting the Crime Laboratory.

Abalos said he called PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. to ensure that agencies would get the much-needed support to expedite the identification and transport of the specimens to PNP headquarters in Quezon City.

A disaster victim identification team from Camp Crame arrived in Palawan on Saturday, said Lt. Col. Richard Allan Mangalip, commander of the PNP Regional Forensic Unit Mimaropa.

He said that based on their initial assessment of the cadavers, “most were already in charred conditions,” but they would do their best to collect DNA samples.

According to an ABS-CBN report, the local government of Coron dug a mass grave at the San Nicolas Public Cemetery to temporarily bury unidentified victims of the passenger and cargo ship.

As of Saturday evening, the PCG reported that the death toll was at 76 while the number of survivors remained at 43, and the number of missing people went down to 13.

Dindo Macalinao, human resources generalist of Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., said he has no information as to the whereabouts of the captain of June Aster, identified as Roel Sarmiento.

The PCG said that while there continues to be no sign of oil sheen or an oil spill, the June Aster would eventually be removed from its location where it had run aground after the fire last Wednesday evening. — Evelyn Macairan