THE Court of Appeals has found the owners of the Sulpicio Lines Inc. now renamed Philippine Span Asia Carriers Inc. to be ‘grossly negligent’ as they’re ordered to pay a total of P129.8-million in damages for the deaths of 814 passengers and over 500 still missing in connection with the sea tragedy in Romblon in 2008.
Associate Justice Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan, in a decision promulgated on June 28, 2024 which she penned, found the owners/appellants liable for their failure to discharge their duties as common carrier.
Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, whose agency handles the civil cases of the heirs and survivors of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars that capsized off the coast of Romblon at the height of Typhoon ‘’Frank’ on June 21, 2008, hailed the CA’s ruling.
Modifying the award for actual, compensatory, moral and exemplary damages of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 49, the CA ordered the accused – Enrique Go, Eusebio Go, Carlos Go, Victoriano Go, Dominador Go, Ricardo Go, Edward Go and Edgar Go – to pay a total of P129, 854, 502.57 to the victims’ families and relatives.
The appellate court stressed that the accused could not evade liability by “simply arguing that the “Stars” tragedy happened because of a fortuitous event.”
The appellants couldn’t attribute the mishap to the purported inexcusable and criminal negligence of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the decision said.
It said that such an argument was untenable and was not supported by any evidence.
All told, we cannot turn a blind eye to this gruesome maritime tragedy which is now a dark page in our nation’s history,” Jorge-Wagan said.
PAO officials including Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Lisa Soriano also expressed happiness over the favorable decision but they said they’re contemplating filing a motion for reconsideration over the reduced compensation most of the heirs and survivors would receive.
Good Riddance congratulates the PAO chief and her equally dedicated public attorneys who gave their best for the victims of the sea tragedy.
