Two residents of Sibuyan, Romblon are among the people still unaccounted for after the MV June Aster caught fire while sailing toward Coron, Palawan, in one of the Philippines’ latest deadly maritime disasters.
The missing men were identified by Romblon News Network as John Rey Marin, 35, and Jonas Rivas, 28, both residents of Sibuyan and workers of Alumpich Company based in Cavite. Their relative, Ton Formilles, appealed for information, saying the two had reportedly traveled to Coron to visit their company’s project site.
The ferry, which departed from Baseco in Manila, was nearing Coron when the fire broke out at around 6:45 p.m. on September 9. The Philippine Coast Guard said the vessel’s manifest listed 134 people—117 passengers and 17 crew members.
86 still missing as search continues
As of the latest Philippine Coast Guard figures reported on September 10, 43 people had been rescued, five had died and 86 remained missing. The figures are still subject to verification as authorities continue reconciling the passenger manifest with those rescued, injured, killed and unaccounted for.
The rescue operation has been complicated by strong winds, rough conditions, thick smoke and extreme heat aboard the damaged vessel. The Coast Guard said rescuers could not safely enter the ferry while the fire had not been officially declared completely extinguished.
Coast Guard, military and civilian vessels have been involved in the search, with local fishermen and private resort operators also helping locate possible survivors. Authorities have also used drift-modeling tools to determine where people may have been carried by currents.
A sudden blast, then fire
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
According to Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, at least one survivor reported hearing a loud explosion from the cargo hold, followed almost immediately by smoke and rapidly spreading flames.
The vessel was reportedly carrying several vehicles and cargo, including five motorcycles, an electric vehicle, a forklift and a pickup truck. Authorities have not yet determined whether the cargo played a role in the fire.
The Coast Guard is also examining whether there could have been negligence or other liability on the part of the ship operator. However, authorities have stressed that no conclusion has yet been reached regarding the cause of the disaster.
Ferry had passed safety inspection
The incident has also raised questions about maritime safety.
The Coast Guard said the MV June Aster passed a Vessel Safety Enforcement Inspection in March 2026 and underwent a pre-departure inspection before leaving Manila. The vessel had a certified capacity of more than 300 people, meaning the 134 people listed on the manifest did not exceed its certified capacity.
Still, the PCG noted that some of the people rescued from the water were not wearing life jackets, with officials suggesting that some passengers may have jumped overboard as the fire spread rapidly.
Two Chilean nationals were among those rescued, according to international reports. The Coast Guard said authorities were continuing to verify the identities of those rescued and those still missing.
Families await word
For the families of Marin and Rivas, however, the wider investigation is secondary to one urgent question: Where are their loved ones?
The two Sibuyan residents were reportedly traveling for work when they boarded the ferry from Manila. Their names now form part of a growing list of passengers whose families are waiting for definitive information from the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
Authorities have urged families who believe their relatives were aboard the vessel to report them as missing so that officials can establish a more accurate accounting of everyone who was on board.
As rescuers continue searching the waters around Coron, the fate of dozens of passengers—including the two workers from Sibuyan—remains uncertain.
For now, families are left waiting for the search to bring answers.
Leave a Reply