It happened so quickly: M/V June Aster captain recounts deadly ferry fire

The captain of the M/V June Aster recounted the moments when a deadly fire broke out aboard the vessel while it was sailing to Coron, Palawan on September 9.

Based on a copy of a sworn statement obtained by GMA News’ James Agustin on Thursday, Captain Roel Sarmiento said that on September 8, he boarded the ferry vessel at Baseco at 9:32 a.m. and assisted in monitoring the loading operation.

The loading of rolling cargo began at 7:15 p.m and the vessel left Baseco at 8:14 p.m.

The ship encountered very rough seas near the Corregidor Traffic Separation Scheme and while approaching Hamilo Point. Conditions improved near Fortune Island.

On September 9 at 6:29 p.m., a fire suddenly broke out.

“We are running good until day after o ika-9 ng Setyembre 2026 at buong araw ay maayos pero ng dumating ng 1829H habang ako ay nasa bridge watch nakapwesto, pumasok ang aking steward at nagsabi na may sunog,” Sarmiento said.

(We were running good until the day after or September 9, 2026 and the whole day was fine but when 6:29 p.m. arrived while I was on the bridge watch, my steward came in and said there was a fire.)

Sarmiento said he immediately ordered that passengers be brought to the bridge and the door opened, while an able-bodied seaman (AB) was instructed to prepare the water hose and fire extinguishers.

When he looked from the starboard wing or the right side of the ferry, he saw intense flames covering the entire right side of the vessel, with fire also visible on the left.

He said he rushed to use the VHF radio and public-address system to issue warnings.

“Kaso biglang nagka-blackout na,” Sarmiento said.

(But there was already a blackout.)

He said he ordered the crew to deploy life rafts because according to him there was no other choice but to abandon ship.

After the two life rafts were deployed, passengers were instructed to jump into the water. The crew also helped a mother get over the railing.

Sarmiento said he removed his clothes, soaked them in water, and used them to cover his mouth to breathe in the midst of the intense heat.

He said he also reopened an air-conditioning accommodation door in an attempt to check whether anyone was nearby but the heat became unbearable.

He said crew members shouted for him to jump from the burning ship.

“Tinawag nila ako na, ‘Talon na Kap, talon na!’ Nagbalik ulit ako sa bridge at sinuot ko ang damit ko dahil wala na akong choice dahil sobrang init na wala nang chance mag-stay hanggang sa tumalon ako ng walang life jacket,” Sarmiento said.

(They called out to me, 'Captain, jump!' I went back to the bridge and put on my clothes because I had no choice because it was so hot that I had no chance of staying until I jumped without a life jacket.)

He said he was about 30 meters from a seaman and asked him for help. The seaman rook off the life jacket he was wearing ang gave it to him, then swam toward a life raft.

“Pagdating ko sa raft nagsibabaan po sila dahil papalapit sa barko ang raft. Pagkahawak ko sa raft ako ay nauntog dahil sa swell. Binalewala ko lang para makaakyat sa raft,” he said.

(When I got to the raft, they were getting off because the raft was approaching the ship. When I grabbed the raft, I was knocked over by the swell. I just ignored it to get on the raft.)

The raft was carrying Sarmiento, three ABs, a mother, and another passenger around 30 years old, according to the captain. They paddled while another passenger later asked to board the raft.

The group was eventually rescued by a fisherman and brought to shore.

“Matapos makarating sa lupa, ako ay lubos na naluluha sa pangyayari. Natulala na lamang ako sapagkat wala na ako nagawa para pigilan pa ang paglaki ng apoy,” Sarmiento said.

(After reaching the ground, I was in tears over the incident. I was just stunned because I couldn't do anything to stop the fire from growing.)

“Sa sobrang trauma ko ay naglakad lang po ako ng naglakad sa kalsada hanggang sa makarating ako kung saan man. Hanggang ngayon, isip pa din ako ng isip kung paano naging sobrang bilis ng pangyayari,” he added.

(I was so traumatized that I just walked along the road until I got somewhere. To this day, I still think about how things happened so quickly.)

Sarmiento voluntarily appeared at the vessel operator’s office five days after the incident.

A total of 77 people have been confirmed dead, eight are still missing, and only 43 survived the incident, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). —RF, GMA News