Cordova to sue 2 shipping firms for not settling oil spill damage

CEBU, Philippines - The municipality of Cordova has decided to file a complaint before the court against the two shipping companies involved in the collision in August last year.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said the issue regarding the town’s claim for environmental damage caused by the ship collision was not settled during a conference last June 25 after representatives of 2Go Group and the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (PSACC) failed to appear.

“Mokiha na mi. Last chance na unta ‘to unya mangayo man sila og postponement, but we will go to court. (We will sue them. That (conference) was supposedly their last chance, but they asked for postponement),” said Sitoy, adding that they will no longer wait until the commemoration of the sea tragedy on August 16.

 The provincial Capitol earlier invited 2Go Group, which owns the sunken M/V Thomas Aquinas, and PSACC, formerly Sulpicio Lines Inc, owner of the M/V Sulpicio Express Siete, for a conference to amicably settle the issue.

“Wa ma’y laing paagi. Sa una pa gipahibalo na namo sila nga og way settlement, court action na gyud. (There is no other way. They have been informed that we will elevate the matter to the court if there will be no settlement,” Sitoy added.

He said he already met with lawyers who will handle the affected fisherfolks in the town.

Cordova is claiming P127 million from the proceeds of the Protection and Indemnity Insurance of the two shipping firms as compensation for the oil spill damage incurred to the mangroves and fishing communities.

In a breakdown of the amount presented by Cordova in its demand letter, the claim covers the fisherfolk sectors at P78.6 million, vendors at P1.38 million, livelihood projects at P5.1 million, and mangrove forests at P41.7 million.

Another conference was set last June 2 but to no avail after 2Go Group refused to compensate the environmental damage.

The company’s representative reasoned out that it has not yet been determined if who is liable of the collision.

PSACC, on the other hand, was not around during the conference and reportedly did not respond to the demand letters sent by the municipality.  (FREEMAN)