Worst Sea Tragedy In 20 Years: The sinking of MV Princess of the Stars

CEBU - The 23,824-ton MV Princess of the Stars owned by Sulpicio Lines Incorporated was carrying 724 passengers, 121 crewmembers and 27 non-crewmen when it left Manila at 8:00 p.m. on June 20 for Cebu despite the weather disturbance brought about by Typhoon Frank.

The vessel opted to sail on despite the storm warning signal hoisted by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) in Manila.

During the vessel’s voyage, Typhoon Frank had already making its way into central Philippines.

Big waves believed to have caused the vessel to run aground in the seawaters a few miles off Central Sibuyan Island before it finally capsized on June 21. The tragedy left most of the passengers - including ship captain Florencio Marimon - dead. Only 32 people survived.

Some of the passengers, however, remained missing as the salvage operation continues at the wreckage site. The salvage team has so far retrieved 545 bodies from the wreckage, which have been sent in two batches to Cebu.

Members of the Disaster Victims Identification Team of the National Bureau of Investigation have so far identified most of the bodies through DNA examination.

The cadavers retrieved from Sibuyan Island were stored at a mobile morgue set up at the Cebu International Port while awaiting identification and relatives to claim.

DVI-team said that most of the bodies have already been identified and claimed by their relatives.

The tragedy prompted the national government to suspend the public conveyance certificates of all SLI vessels. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, however, has already allowed the firm to operate but only through its cargo vessels after businessmen complained of lack of public transport for their merchandise.

Lawmakers blamed the Philippine Coast Guard for the tragedy while the families of the victims hold the shipping company responsible for the death of their loved ones.

Akbayan Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquel immediately called for the suspension of Coast Guard officials, blaming them for the tragedy. During interviews, Baraquel said the PCG’s violations of its policies brought the passengers to their death.

 According to Baraquel, PCG Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, PCG NCR Commodore Louie Tuazon, and the station commander for North Harbor should be suspended for violating rules and procedures on maritime safety.

 One of the violations she cited was the failure by the PCG to publish the memorandum circular on maritime safety in its official gazette or in newspapers.

 According to the lawmaker, the PCG officials should have plotted the Danger Sector, an area which defines where a typhoon may pass during the next 48 hours.

 PAGASA has already hoisted Storm Signal Number 3 in areas along the vessel’s route three hours before it departed from Manila.

 Under Storm Signal Number 3, all ships are prohibited from sailing into the Danger Sector. But if they are already traveling during the hoisting of the storm signal, they must seek shelter.

 MV Princess of the Stars was traveling towards the Danger Sector and yet PCG allowed it to sail, Baraquel pointed out.

The PCG officials allegedly failed to monitor the weather condition and provide advisory to the departing vessels.

 The bereaved families of the victims, on the other hand, blamed the beleaguered shipping company for the untimely demise of their loved ones.

 Civil cases for damages against SLI piled up before the Regional Trial Courts in Manila and Cebu. The relatives of the victims were assisted by the Public Attorney’s Office in their individual claims before the court.

In Cebu, there were 35 civil cases filed against SLI – 34 of which were assisted by PAO – seeking a total of P403.5 million.

About P51.7 million was the largest single claim filed by the parents of Dennis Anit, an overseas seaman. Anit’s parents demanded P50.8 million in actual damages and P800,000 in moral and exemplary damages.

The other victims whose family filed civil cases for damages before the courts in Cebu City include Glen Nomar Basnillo, Eveloino Peralta, Jr., Ophelia Tigcom, Herminigildo Garcia, Jr., Aquiles Sillar, Modelyn Jadena, Narciso Ponpon, Jerluna Himaya, Ramil Escaran, Vanesa Pogado, Jocelyn Furia, Rafael Payawal, Nardita Sabalones, Marissa Manigos and her children Erica Marie and Filcire Marc, Alejandro Maunes, Juanita Labang and son Cesar Labang, Ricardo Dela Cerna, Joel Eballena, Annaliza Ouano, Jonathan Gabison, Michael John Calelero, Jennifer Javier and son Renz Anthony Ajvier, Romulo Logroño, Candido Cabalquinto Jr., Jonathan Labajo, Sarah Tangpos,Victorio Ermac, Meljude Cañete, Allan Gabriel Macapaz, Fernando Chavez, Pablito Bejona, Sarciso Nuñez and Delia Cabucos.

The cases have been raffled off to different courts in Cebu City but PAO regional attorney G-Ree Calinawan moved for the consolidation of these cases in one sala. At least 15 motions for consolidation have already been granted while the others are still awaiting resolution.

PAO wanted these cases under RTC Judge Soliver Peras who was the first to hear a case involving the Princess of the Stars tragedy.

In filing their cases, the families of the victims blamed the SLI management for the tragedy. According to them, the company has been negligent in its obligation as evident in the vessel’s sailing to Cebu even when Storm Signal Number 3 has already been hoisted by the weather bureau in the provinces where the MV Princess of the Stars would pass.

They claimed that the shipping company failed to exercise extra care to ensure the safety of its passengers. — /LPM (THE FREEMAN)