It has been a little over two months since The Sulpicio Lines Inc. ship, The MV Princess of The Stars, capsized off the coast of Romblon, in which 800 or so passengers and crew members are still missing or have perished. During these months, we have seen Sulpicio Lines blame everyone else including mother nature. They have gone the way of bullies as they have blamed most everyone except themselves. They have gone on the legal offensive, as well as a public relations offensive.
They have made the lives of the families of the victims miserable, first by not allowing The Public Attorney’s Office to fully help the families with simple legal needs, and then by falsely giving the families a sense of renumeration as they provided P200,000 to those with proper documentation, which in the end, was a lot of red tape. Not only was this a false sense of providing for the victims and their families, they still do not say publicly, without a much conjoling, that the P200,000 does not come from them, it comes from their insurance company. Not only that, they have stipulated that those who would avail of this compensation will relinquish their rights to file future lawsuits against the company.
As I wrote a few weeks back, this was the quit claim, the waiver that had many public officials steaming, because it solidified the fact that indeed this is one of the most ruthless, selfish, and despicable company in The Philippines.
BMI RECOMMENDS CANCELLATION OF FRANCHISE
The Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI), which is set up within the purview of The Coast Guard, has released its findings into the investigation of The Sulpicio Lines Tragedy, and it has found Sulpicio Lines Administratively liable for the deaths of the passengers, and has also a recommended the cancellation of their franchise.
As Senator Pia Cayetano said,
The completion of the BMI probe is just the initial step to bring justice to the victims of this latest sea tragedy involving Sulpicio. Marina must now make sure that BMI’s recommendation to keep its vessels grounded is strictly enforced, and for proper authorities to pursue administrative, civil and criminal charges against the shipping line and others equally responsible
SULPICIO MANAGEMENT EXECUTES A GUILT TRIP DEFENSE
In a Sunstar Article,
Robert Go, also a CCCI former president, said that the BMI recommendation to permanently suspend Sulpicio’s operations would, if approved, be a big blow to the business sector.
A big blow to the business sector, or to Sulpicio Lines? A big blow to the business sector, or a big victory for the victims and the families of the victims? Because last I heard, I don’t really see the competition worrying too much about the cancellation of their franchise. And last I heard, at least these workers will have the chance to find other jobs, most probably jobs from other shipping lines who will need the workers to fill the void caused by a downed Sulpicio Lines Inc.
“If Sulpicio is not allowed to sail indefinitely, then the coming Christmas season will be chaotic and there will be a shortage of food products and merchandise, for sure,” Go said.
This would also lead to higher shipping costs.
This despicable man has the audacity to use fear as a tool to defend their negligence. Yes, anyone can get away with murder as long as they have a stranglehold on the industry. Which I again must reiterate, can be, and will be picked up by other shipping lines if Sulpicio is suspended for good.
“It will create difficulties for the Visayas and Mindanao, which depend on ships for transport. I hope that the BMI will review its findings,” Go also said.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) criticized the BMI for laying the blame solely on Sulpicio.
“We are appalled by the utter disregard of the BMI for the economic hardship that its recommendation will bring to more than 3,000 workers who rely solely on the operations of the shipping line,” TUCP said.
“We are also confused by the apparent absolution of government agencies that are to be equally blamed for the accident,” TUCP added, referring to the Coast Guard, Marina and the Pag-asa weather bureau.
If they’re confused, then I’m confused as to why Sulpicio Lines has blamed everyone else, even mother nature, and has failed to take up the mantle of responsibility in the deaths of so many innocent lives. If anything has caused me to vent up with such enormous anger at how this company just seems to not realize the extent to which it has caused so much grief, then it has been the preceding statements of such callous and insensitive businessmen.
MY OWN PERSONAL STORY
The day that I found out that my cousin was a passenger of the capsized ship, was the day that this whole situation really hit home. Bebot would eventually be found around 50 kilometers from the site of the capsized ship. I wrote a sequence of very detailed articles back then, but it is still a touchy subject for me to write about. I had a dream of what Bebot a day after I had found out he was missing, a dream in which he had been scrambling in the boat, I could see the worry on his face, and then that was it, I woke up.
It’s not like me to dream of such things, I have never had such a vision, but this one was different, because of how vivid it was.
A few weeks ago, my cousin emailed the picture of Bebot’s body when he was found. The woman who had found him had taken a few pictures. The moment I saw the picture of my dear cousin, as he lay there, unidentifiable except for the identifications he had in his wallet, I had to step back. It is a picture that I will not want to see ever again, but it is a picture that I will never forget either.
I can just imagine for the families who still have relatives who have not been found yet, for them there is no closure, just a damn company who thinks they can get away with murder because they are able to play on the fear of the public, they have money to pay high priced lawyers, and they have connections within government.
WILL JUSTICE BE SERVED?
If we allow this unjustice to go on much longer, it does say a lot about our nation. That we can just forget such a tragedy, as if it had not occurred. The only way for Sulpicio Lines to actually provide just compensation if it is finally held liable for civil, criminal, and administrative misgivings. Any other result will just be another repeat of what they have done in the past.
This will be a long battle for justice, let’s just hope government agencies know what that justice is all about.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Granting that the government will do the right thing by cancelling Sulpicio Lines’ CPC and a shortage of domestic vessels occurs, then MARINA can always issue special permits (SPs) to foreign liners under sec. 1, Rule 5 of the IRR of RA 9295 “AN ACT PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE DOMESTIC SHIPPING”…
It’s still gonna be business as usual without them. So if I were Go, I’d shush.
Nick,
I think that a key aspect being missed is how the incident exposed the negligence of such agencies as the Coast Guard. What of government’s own obvious negligence, which I think is being glossed over.
Hi Ding,
I don’t think it’s quite fair to pin the blame on the Coast Guard. First of all, if you read RA 9295, some of their functions have been transferred to the MARINA and one of these functions include vessel inspections. Therefore, by virtue of law, vessel inspections are MARINA’s responsibility and not the Coast Guard’s. Coast Guard’s responsibility begins when the vessel is already at sea. Though technically, they belong to one agency which is the DOTC.
The MV Princess of the Stars incident exposed the pure negligence of the vessel owner and the vessel crew. They were advised NOT to sail. Superferry and Nenaco sought shelter. Sulpicio continued. Should the Coast Guard still be blamed?
If at all, Government’s regulatory lapse or “negligence” in this case would be the fact that they still allowed Sulpicio to remain in business after the Dona Paz tragedy. They should’ve cancelled their CPC a long time ago. But that’s a whole new issue altogether.
Jen,
My beef with the Coast Guard is not necessarily over the Sulpicio incident, but with their anomalous zillion-peso white elephan: the GPS maritime emergency communications station which was bought, installed but never used. You know why? No software!.
Add to this the corruption of boarding officers.
It is also widely known how marine inquiries are easily rigged. Ask anyone in the maritime industry.
BTW, Mr. Suazo, the MARINA chief, is due to bow out and guess which Assumption alumna will take his place. Let’s see if government’s continuing neglect of the shipping industry will change.
It’s a case of putting the passenger’s safety first. This is the creed by which Sulpicio Lines Inc., and others like it should always abide by.
The bottom line is good, but when it puts lives in danger, that is not only negligent, it should be criminal.
I have to agree wholeheartedly with Jenny on this one.. Although, I understand where Ding is coming from, but right now, there must be a sense of focus as to where the brunt of the blame lies on this specific tragedy.
As I have said in previous articles, the weak link here is Sulpicio Lines Inc., bring them down, and the rest will be easier to tackle.
Hi again Ding,
As to the alleged anomalous zillion-peso GPS maritime emergency communications system, I’ll have to find more info on that one.
Re: Mr. Suazo, he bowed out effective yesterday. That’s a good first step in reforming the industry, IMHO. He was never fit for the job. Now he can face the cases that were filed against him a few years ago (while he was VP of Harbour Center).
And as to the person who’s going to take his place, that person is not an Assumption Alumna. That much I can guarantee. :)
@ Nick,
A friendly advice to the FV contributors. KISSS – keep it simple, short, and smart. Really, some of the blogs come out so artificial. What is this? A (s)word duel. Holy tamale, former professors would not recognize some of your writing now. The blog doesn’t want to be elitist-sounding lest potential readers/commenters get turned off. The more, the manier. Tama ba. O di niyo gets? Well, I’m just commenting so why bother?
I’m not exactly sure what you mean. I think I have an idea, but I don’t want to assume to much. Please elaborate in detail, so I can respond, and hopefully take in what can be done..
And yes, you can bother, those who comment here are just as important, if not more, than those who write.. it is the exchange of ideas that is important.. so please do share..
Either through this comment thread, or throug email.. nick at tingog dot com
That’s true nick. very true. the optimist in me agrees with you.
The cynic in me knows that a couple of people in the right places and with the right delivery of money, could very much easily turn the tide against the victims of this tragedy. Ten to twenty years is not inconceivable. it brings the whole concept of “shit happens” to a “higher plane”.
That’s not to say we should neither hope nor stop fighting for real justice.
Here’s to you and all of Sulpicio’s victims— may you have real justice, not matter how long it takes!
i’m no optimist, but i think having continual FV updates will help. if the story remains top-of-mind somehow, then perhaps there’ll be folks who’ll one way or another pitch in.
i keep on thinking that had MSM continued reportage on Cris Mendez’s case, the young man’s quest for justice might have gone somewhere.