There are counterarguments that have been flying around regarding the move to shut Sulpicio Lines down especially in the light of the capsizing of The MV Princess of The Stars that capsized off the shores of Sibuyan Islands in the midst of Typhoon Frank.  Arguments that it is too soon, the much quoted “Act of God” argument, or even arguments that go so far as using the 7000 workers that stand to lose their jobs because of such a shutdown.

Here’s what Mong Palatino wrote over at Stuart Santiago’s blog with regards to Sulpicio Lines and the possible shutdown of the company,

stop sulpicio? what about its 7,000 workers and their families?

to which I replied,

@Mong, uhmm, where would these workers go? To other shipping lines.. other companies.. if there is a void because of a Sulpicio shutdown, other companies will need able workers, the market provides for that..

There is no sure thing, but at least these workers will have a chance at life.. We can’t say this for those who died in the tragedy..

I don’t agree with any form of economic argument regarding this situation.

To simply let this tragedy go, all because The Go Family has a foothold on the industry, provides for an easy out for the Oligarchs that run this country.

If we can’t provide a harsh punishment for negligence that cost the lives of hundreds of Filipinos, that says a lot about our society.

In short Mong, that argument just doesn’t fly with me. Because it provides another excuse to escape accountability.

It gives us an out, instead of thinking, we close our minds.

What about providing for a 2 month unemployment benefit, and then helping to relocate these employees? Negotiating with other companies to let these workers get the first shot at open positions? What about……..

Let’s think please. One drawback shouldn’t be used as an excuse to let the guilty be set free. A drawback is simply a challenge, not a permanent roadblock.

Again, folks, I ask you to read The Sulpicio Lines saga which I wrote just days ago (yes, I know it was quite long).  In the article I mention many factors that may hinder the move towards shutting down Sulpicio Lines, and this recent comment regarding the 7000 workers is a price to pay.  But what these 7000 workers do have is a chance, something that the dead of The MV Princess of The Stars do not have.

Even the recent opinion piece by Neal Cruz, “22 other sea vessels sunk by Typhoon Frank“, would have us believe that it was an Act of God, something that our dear blogger colleague Dean Bocobo is leaning towards.  But as I have said, with my article “22 ships?“, could it be an act of God or simply a result of the poor state of our maritime industry, Sulpicio Lines included.  Even that report has had me asking, trying to research, without luck, just what type of vessels were these 22 ships?

But, the more pressing matter, so as to continue this commentary, is the veracity of that claim of 22 ships?

While, I have been getting flak for my commentaries on Sulpicio Lines, because as one blogger puts it, these are premature, I think using 22 ships as an excuse for Sulpicio Lines to get away scott free is actually where the premature commentary flak should be targeted towards.

The reason is that we know already the circumstances surrounding the tragedy that led to the sinking of MV Princess of The Stars, we know that Sulpicio Lines management and the ship captain decided to set sail, when we know that many others did not.

We know that MV Princess of The Stars had 800+ passengers and crew.

We know that it capsized off Sibuyan Islands.

We know that the ship may not have been properly balanced, its center of gravity most likely shifted.

What do we know about these other major ships that met its end? How many were passenger ships? Cargo ships? Fishing Boats? Who were the companies in charge of these ships? How individuals in each ship? What were their route? What was weather when they left port?

I for one, would like this information, to give us a better perspective. If anyone has information on this, hope you can help me out with this one.

In the weeks and months to come, Sulpicio Lines will try to come up with more excuses, there will be others who stand beside this company, those who will be in politics, other bloggers maybe, but what these excuses will fail to answer is that of the question of Accountability.

Again, as with most everything that is wrong with our nation, the process of Accountability is derailed all because the decision makers of our nation do not have the balls to take on the oligarchs that run the nation.  Either that, or they are in cahoots with these individuals.

In any case, even the recent article by Jester-in-Exile, that referred to the research that was done by Inquirer, in which it was found that Sulpicio Lines has had 45 incidents within the span of 20 years, has made us “look at the numbers”.

My friends, readers, colleagues, I contend that sacrifices have to be made to finally make accountable the companies and the government bodies, that have failed us in our hours of need.  This is not only an indictment on Sulpicio Lines, it is an indictment on the entire maritime industry.

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