PCG files case vs June Aster captain

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard has charged Roel Sarmiento, captain of the fire-stricken MV June Aster, with falsification of public documents, as the PCG and Bureau of Fire Protection continue with their maritime casualty investigation, which may lead to the filing of other criminal cases.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the falsification complaint, a violation of Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code, was filed before the Department of Justice on Sept. 23.

“The master’s declaration of safety departure (MDSD) indicates the actual number of passengers and documents before a ship is allowed to sail. But there were six people in the ticket manifest who did not board the ship, a passenger with a double entry and another listed as a crew but did not actually board the ship,” Cayabyab told dzBB radio.

Cayabyab pointed out that the MDSD, which is submitted by a ship captain to the PCG’s boarding team, is a declaration that the ship was safe and seaworthy to sail.

“The document also shows the vessel’s compliance to safety rules and regulation, manning requirement and competency of the crew onboard, and readiness of the vessel to sail,” she said.

Cayabyab said the complaint is just the initial criminal charge filed in connection with the burning of June Aster on Sept. 9, wherein 77 people died and eight remain missing.

According to some witnesses, they heard an explosion shortly before the vessel went up in flames at 6:45 p.m. of Sept. 9. The vessel, owned by Atienza Interisland Ferries, was sailing from Manila to Coron, Palawan.

Maritime Industry Authority Region 4 director Maximo Bañares Jr. said the MARINA has completed its investigation, with a finding that a flammable cargo caused the fire.

“I don’t want to preempt the release of the report, but there was a lot of flammable cargo in the ship. And the cargo was not properly secured,” Bañares said.

Cayabyab said the PCG investigation is separate from the MARINA probe.

Some quarters have called for an independent probe to determine if the PCG or MARINA may also be held accountable.