SC upholds continued trial of ex-Sulpicio exec

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) recently declared as final its ruling for a Manila court to proceed with the hearing of the criminal case against a former Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) executive for the death of 227 people when M/V Princess of the Stars sank off Romblon in 2008.

The SC’s Third Division released last Oct. 7, but made public only yesterday, a four-page entry of judgment ordering Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 5 to reinstate the criminal case of reckless imprudence against former SLI first vice president Edgar Go.

 The SC affirmed the findings of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that found probable cause to indict Go under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code. 

The High Tribunal said there was no grave abuse of discretion on the part of the DOJ, which established that Go failed to monitor and assess the movement of the vessel at the height of Typhoon Frank.

Of the 849 persons on board when the passenger cargo ship sank on June 21, 2008, only 32 survived while 227 perished and 592 were reported missing.