(Photo courtesy of PCG)
The Philippine Coast Guard has revised the number of people confirmed onboard the ill-fated MV June Aster to 128 after verifying that four passengers listed in the ticket manifest never boarded the vessel.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the four passengers were located and physically verified on Sept. 16 after authorities received information that they had not boarded before the ferry left Baseco Port on Sept. 8.
The passenger-cargo vessel caught fire off Coron, Palawan, on Sept. 9, leaving 77 people dead.
According to Cayabyab, three of the four passengers said they had intended to book tickets from Coron to Manila but mistakenly booked the opposite route. The fourth had purchased another ticket and traveled to Coron aboard a different vessel on Sept. 5.
Following the reconciliation of passenger records, the PCG adjusted the confirmed number onboard from 132 to 128.
As of Sept. 16, the updated tally stood at 128 persons onboard, including 77 fatalities, 43 survivors and eight still missing.
The PCG said verification of the passenger manifest is continuing as part of efforts to account for everyone linked to the vessel.
