PCG files falsification complaint vs. MV June Aster's captain

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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has filed a criminal complaint for falsification of documents against the captain of the ill-fated MV June Aster, which went up in flames in a fire that killed 77 people, with eight still missing.

There were 43 survivors.

The complaint was filed before the National Prosecution Service (NPS) of the Department of Justice in Manila on September 23.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the complaint stemmed from documents submitted by Sarmiento as part of the vessel's Master's Declaration of Safe Departure (MDSD), which contains the declared number of individuals onboard.

The PCG said other criminal complaints are also being prepared based on evidence gathered during its ongoing investigation.

"During this incident, may anim tayong pasahero na initially nasa ticket manifest na hindi po nakasakay sa barko. So ’yan po ’yung mga tinitingnan po natin. Pangalawa, during the investigation, may mga nakita rin po tayong double entry ng pangalan ng isang pasahero. At ang isa po doon ay may nakalista pong pangalan ng crew at hindi po actual na sumakay," Cayabyab said on Super Radyo dzBB.

"So i-highlight ko lang po... itong MDSD na binabanggit ko po dati. It is the declaration of the captain na ang kanyang barko ay ligtas and seaworthy to sail, declaring as well na itong barko niya is in safe condition, compliant sa lahat ng mga safety rules and regulations, to include po ’yung manning requirement and competency po ng crew na sakay po niya, at of course ’yung kahandaan po niya—ang kahandaan ng barko—before maglayag," she added.

(Regarding this incident, there were six passengers initially listed on the ticket manifest who did not actually board the vessel. That is one of the matters we are looking into. Secondly, during the investigation, we also discovered a duplicate entry for a passenger's name; in one instance, a crew member's name was listed, yet that person did not actually board the ship... I would also like to highlight... the MDSDcis the captain's declaration that his vessel is safe and seaworthy; he declares that the ship is in safe condition and compliant with all safety rules and regulations—including manning requirements and the crew's competence—as well as the vessel's overall readiness before departure.)

Meanwhile, the PCG continues to provide free legal assistance to affected families.

Aerial search operations continue for the eight missing individuals in the waters off Palawan and Southern Tagalog.

Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc. and its hired salvor, C.V. Gaspar Salvage and Lighterage Corp., are also discussing measures to speed up the salvage operation of the MV June Aster.

On September 9, the passenger vessel caught fire in the waters of Coron, Palawan. –NB, GMA News