Authorities have identified 67 of the 71 cadavers recovered from the M/V June Aster fire in Coron, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
In an interview with DZRH News on Saturday, PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemi Cayabyab said four bodies remain unidentified and are still undergoing identification procedures by the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO).
“Noong una out of 71 remains po natin, 67 na po identified and 4 po yung pending for identification ng ating PNP-SOCO,” Cayabyab said.
Cayabyab also reported that 18 families of the victims had contacted the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Coron, while 12 bodies had already been turned over to their respective families.
She explained that the turnover of the remaining bodies depends partly on coordination with the victims’ relatives. Atienza Shipping Lines is handling communication and coordination with the families following the identification process.
When asked why the remaining bodies had not yet been turned over to their families, Cayabyab said, “Ang nagiging concern din po diyan is yung ating coordination, particularly with the families. Ang Atienza Shipping Lines naman po actually ang in-charge po doon sa pakikipag-coordinate and contact po doon sa mga families. Once ma-identify na po ng PNP-SOCO.”
Authorities earlier reported that 77 people died in the maritime disaster in September, with 71 bodies initially remaining unidentified.
Meanwhile, the PCG continues search and rescue operations for eight people who remain missing following the fire aboard the vessel.
