Teacher files lawsuit vs SLI

A teacher from barangay Apas who lost her husband in the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars yesterday filed a civil case against Sulpicio Lines Inc. and its corporate officials.

This is the eighth civil case filed in Cebu City alone.

Aileen Ponpon is demanding P12.9 million in actual and compensatory damages, moral and exemplary damages, she also asked the court to compel SLI to pay 20 percent of her attorneys’ fees to the Public Attorneys’ Office that provided counsel for her.

Ponpon, like the seven other complainants who filed similar cases, said that SLI president Enrique Go, executive vice president Eusebio Go, executive vice president and chief executive officer Carlos Go, senior vice president and secretary Victriano Go, 1st vice presidents Dominador Go, Eduard Go and Edgar Go and 1st vice president and treasurer Richard Go were negligent and failed to exercise extra ordinary diligence in transporting its passengers to their destination.

Also included in the complaint is the ship’s captain, Florencio Marimon, although he is believed to be among those who died in the tragedy.

Ponpon said that the shipping company and its corporate officials are liable for negligence and breach of contract of carriage for failure to bring her husband, Narciso, safely to his destination.

Ponpon, who has been married to her husband since 2002, claimed that her husband is only 34 years old and was earning P33,000 a month abroad.  But because of the respondents’ alleged negligence, she and their only child were deprived of the said income.

She said that her husband would have earned a total of P12.1 million when he retired so they are entitled to claim from the respondents as actual and compensatory damages.

Ponpon is likewise demanding P400,000 in exemplary damages and another P400,000 in moral damages.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Victim Identification-Information Management Center in Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. said relatives of the victims of the sinking and Typhoon Frank should wait for the call from their office informing them of the results of the DNA cross-matching.

The DVIMC urged the families not to come to their office until they have been officially contacted on the result and instructed to claim the cadavers so that the process will be done in orderly manner and maintain dignity to the dead.

Relatives will be informed by the NBI or the PNP to go to the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Junquera Street, Cebu City and bring with them necessary official documents like birth certificates, marriage contracts of the victims or any proof of relationship with the victim.

Families that are contacted and asked for the identification of their missing love ones can call (032) 4165025 or (032)2538730 to confirm the information with the authorities. — Fred P. Languido and Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP