Sulpicio Lines: No waiver, no P200K for 'Princess' victims

MANILA, Philippines - Families of the victims of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars who either died or are still missing will not receive monetary compensation from Sulpicio Lines Inc., owner of the sunken vessel, if they will not give assurance that they will not sue the shipping firm. In his report in GMA’s 24 Oras, Ivan Mairina said this was the admission made by Edgar Go, 1st vice president of Sulpicio Lines, during Thursday’s hearing of the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy at the House of Representatives. “I think there’s no reason to pay, your honor,” Go said when asked by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga if the families of the fatalities and missing in the accident will still receive P200,000 if they refuse to sign the quick claim. The television report said a quick claim indicates that kin of the passengers who died or are still missing in the tragedy will no longer file a case against Sulpicio Lines. At least 256 of the more than 700 passengers of the vessel that capsized off the Sibuyan, Island in Romblon last June 21 had already been paid, according to the report. The report said that Sulpicio has previously denied that they required relatives of passengers of MV Princess of the Stars to sign the quick claim or waiver. The same report added that Public Attorney Office and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) had previously announced quick claims weres illegal as the compensation of victims should be covered by the ship’s insurance. - GMANews.TV