PAO wants 3 more Sulpicio executives indicted

MANILA, Philippines – The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) yesterday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to indict three other officers of Sulpicio Lines Inc. in connection with the sinking of M/V Princess of the Stars off Sibuyan Island that left over 500 people dead last year.

In a supplemental joint complaint affidavit, the PAO said SLI’s port captains Benjamin Eugenio and Nestor Ponteres, and Engr. Ernelson Morales should also be held criminally liable for alleged reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries and damage to properties punishable under Revised Penal Code because they had “direct participation” in the trip of the ill-fated vessel.

The PAO stressed that the three were not indicted to court in the first resolution of the DOJ simply since they were not impleaded as respondents in the complaint.

“The evidence already adduced by complainants and the other evidence gathered by the honorable hearing panel clearly point to the culpability of Capt. Eugenio, Capt. Ponteres and Engr. Morales, such that the inescapable consequence is that they should be included as respondents in this case and be made to answer for the fatal outcome of their inexcusable negligence,” PAO said.

The DOJ approved last June 22 the criminal indictment of Sulpicio vice president for administration Edward Go and skipper Florencio Marimon after finding probable cause in the complaint.

Go, based on the resolution of investigating prosecutors, should be held liable for the tragedy because of his “failure to prevent or discourage the ship to depart from the Port of Manila despite prevailing bad weather conditions” as the official “responsible for operations, movement and safety of the vessel.”

The prosecutors said Go “failed to give orders to drop anchor or take refuge for temporary shelter for the ship.” Marimon, on the other hand, was negligent and “lacked foresight and precaution in observing seamanship rules” when he decided to sail despite bad weather condition.

It was reported, however, that Marimon was among those who died in the tragedy. His body was among the 447 recovered and identified by authorities through DNA testing. – Edu Punay