Coron:Manila Senator Raffy Tulfo has urged the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to expedite the filing of criminal charges against the captain and crew of MV June Aster, following the ferry fire off Coron, Palawan on September 9 that resulted in 77 deaths.

According to Philippines News Agency, during a Senate Committee on Public Services hearing, Tulfo pressed PCG Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla to complete the case buildup within a week. Tulfo emphasized the victims' families' growing impatience due to delays in filing charges. Tuvilla, leading the investigation, committed to providing an update within a week and said that complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and serious physical injuries are being prepared.

The PCG awaits the Bureau of Fire Protection's (BFP) official fire investigation report before filing additional charges. A falsification complaint has already been filed concerning discrepancies in the captain's safe departure declaration. Investigators traced the fire to combustible materials in the vessel's rear cargo hold, with no evidence of an explosion found.

Of the 77 fatalities, 67 have been identified, while four remain under examination. Atienza Inter-island Ferries, Inc. has issued PHP50,000 in initial financial assistance to victims' families, with an additional PHP200,000 to be provided after insurance verification. Tulfo has called for increasing maritime passenger death insurance coverage to PHP1 million, surpassing the PHP400,000 currently proposed by authorities. The incident also left eight people missing and 43 injured.