Sulpicio Lines has lost a second appeal to halt the prosecute two of its officials on charges relating to the 2008 Princess of the Stars ferry disaster, which killed more than 800 people. The Princess of the Stars was a ferry owned by Filipino shipping company Sulpicio Lines that capsized off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon at the height of Typhoon Fengshen on June 21, 2008. The ferry had a total passenger capacity of 1,992 people. The 5-member Philippines Board of Marine Inquiry, in its 65-page report dated August 25, 2008 (submitted to the Maritime Industry Authority or Marina), found Sulpicio Lines and its captain liable for the MV Princess of the Stars June 21 maritime tragedy.
The Philippines Justice Department denied the appeal filed by Edgar Go, the vice-president of Sulpicio, to reconsider a March 2009 decision which dismissed his petition for a review of the findings by prosecutors. Justice secretary Alberto Agra said Go had failed to raise any new arguments that would warrant reversal of the ruling.
The Justice Department claims that Go, the head of Sulpicio’s crisis management committee, failed to direct the captain, Florencio Marimon Sr, to cancel the trip to Cebu, even after the weather bureau had raised Storm Signal No 3 over the area where the ship would pass.
Marimon was also named in the criminal case – although he has been missing since the disaster, his body was never recovered.
The failure of Go’s appeal coincided with the second anniversary of the Princess of the Stars sinking on 21 June 2008. Only 32 people out of the 860 passengers and crew onboard survived.
If you have been injured in a ferry accident or have questions about any other maritime claims, please contact the maritime lawyers of Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, LLP at info@smslegal.com.
