Damages sought vs. SLI now reach P227 million

CEBU - The 20 suits filed against Sulpicio Lines Inc. in Cebu in connection with the June 21 sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars have reached P227,366,688 million as of yesterday, according to the Public Attorney’s Office.

The figure, however, is expected to rise in the coming months as more cases have yet to be filed against the shipping company, PAO Central Visayas Director Ma. G-Ree Calinawan said the figure excludes claims for attorney’s fees.

Calinawan said aside from the cases filed by families of passengers, families of some of the ship’s crewmembers are also set to file a multi-million peso damage suit.

Recently, SLI has been ordered to pay P23 million in damages to four families who lost their loved ones in the September 1998 sinking of the MV Princess of the Orient.

In the figures presented by PAO, the largest claim against the company was for the death of Dennis Anit, which is P51.680 million in actual and moral damages.

Anit was a seaman working for an international shipping company.

Recently, Calinawan said PAO filed a motion for consolidation of the cases to the court branches where they were raffled of.

She said that from the 16 branches, only three judges have so far approved the motion for consolidation. They are RTC Branch 16 Judge Sylvia Aguirre-Paderangga, RTC Branch 9 Judge Geraldine Faith Econg and RTC Branch 5 Judge Douglas Marigomen.

Calinawan said the consolidation of cases might go to RTC Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras where the lowest docket number of the case has been filed.

The case with the lowest docket number was that of Gloria Basnillo from Bohol, who first filed the case against SLI for the death of her son. — Jasmin R. Uy/LPM (THE FREEMAN)