The captain of the MV June Aster has voluntarily appeared before authorities as the identities of only five of the 76 people who died in the ferry fire have been confirmed and their remains turned over to their families, while 12 people remain missing.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) confirmed that Captain Roel Sarmiento appeared at the Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc. office in Palawan on Monday, 14 September, five days after the tragedy at sea.
Sarmiento was accompanied by Dindo Macalinao, HR General of Atienza Interisland Ferries Inc., and his appearance was subsequently reported to the Coron Emergency Operations Center.
According to PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, investigators are expected to gather information from Sarmiento about the circumstances surrounding the incident, including his whereabouts following the fire and what transpired before his appearance.
Authorities have so far accounted for 44 survivors and 76 fatalities, while 12 people remain missing.
The five identified victims were among those recovered from the sea and have since been identified and claimed by their relatives. The remaining 71 fatalities were recovered from the burned wreckage and have yet to be formally identified.
Disaster Victim Identification teams are continuing to examine the recovered remains. By Monday evening, 50 bodies had undergone processing, with 41 moved to a temporary resting area, while the remaining remains were still at the collection area awaiting examination.
DNA testing is being arranged for victims whose identities cannot be established through other identification methods.
The ferry was carrying 132 people, 115 passengers and 17 crew members, on a voyage from Manila to Coron when it caught fire.
The PCG said the ticket manifest listed 134 individuals, but two people later reported that they had not boarded the vessel, bringing the confirmed number of people who boarded to 132.
The search for the 12 missing people is continuing, involving local and national authorities and emergency response teams.
Among the 44 survivors, 13 are receiving treatment in hospitals. Eight are confined at Coron District Hospital, while five are being treated at Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital.
Another 13 survivors are staying at the Regional Evacuation Center, while eight are accommodated at an inn designated for people affected by the disaster.
Eight survivors have already been reunited with their families. Two uninjured survivors remain on hand to assist passengers receiving hospital care.
The Coron Emergency Operations Center has established assistance desks and telephone hotlines for families seeking information about missing relatives or recovered victims.
Authorities have urged affected families to coordinate with the EOC and Disaster Victim Identification teams as the search, recovery and identification operations continue.
The appearance of Captain Sarmiento is expected to form part of the continuing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ferry fire, while authorities continue efforts to account for everyone who was aboard the vessel.
The investigation remains ongoing.