77 Dead: Philippine Ferry Captain Charged Over Fatal Manifest Fraud
Philippine Coast Guard files criminal complaint against Roel Sarmiento for falsifying passenger records on the.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has taken legal action against the captain of the June Aster ferry following a devastating fire that resulted in 77 confirmed fatalities and eight missing individuals. The criminal complaint accuses Captain Roel Sarmiento of falsifying the vessel’s passenger manifest, a critical document required before departure.
The June Aster set sail from Manila on September 9, heading toward Coron on Busuanga Island. Around 6:45 PM that evening, the ferry erupted in flames approximately one nautical mile off Busuanga’s eastern coast. Survivors described an explosion followed by an uncontrollable blaze, leaving little time for evacuation. First responders rescued 43 people from the water before shifting to recovery operations.
Recovery Efforts and Forensic Difficulties
The wreck of the June Aster ran aground near Busuanga Island, allowing investigators to board the vessel. However, the intense heat of the fire severely damaged many of the recovered bodies, complicating identification. Forensic teams have resorted to extracting DNA from dental pulp—a method used when remains are too badly burned for standard analysis.
Search operations for the eight missing passengers continue in waters off Palawan and Southern Tagalog. Meanwhile, the shipowner has hired a salvage company to assess the feasibility of removing the wreck, though no final decision has been made. The PCG has indicated that further complaints may be filed as the investigation progresses.
Manifest Errors Under Scrutiny
The PCG’s complaint highlights significant discrepancies in the June Aster’s manifest. According to investigators, six passengers listed as boarding never actually embarked, while one passenger’s name appeared twice. Additionally, a crew member was recorded as present despite not being on the vessel. Such inaccuracies are a recurring issue in ferry incidents across Southeast Asia, often leading to confusion during rescue operations and raising concerns about potential overloading.
A PCG spokesperson explained the findings to local radio station dzBB: “Six passengers were listed on the manifest but did not board. We also found a duplicate entry for one passenger and a crew member who was recorded as present but never embarked.”
The Master’s Declaration of Safe Departure—a mandatory pre-voyage safety check in the Philippines—requires precise documentation of all passengers and crew. The National Prosecution Service will now review the complaint against Sarmiento, who voluntarily cooperated with investigators on September 14. The case marks the beginning of a broader inquiry into the disaster.
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