Raps vs Sulpicio official, ‘Princess’ captain pushed

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday pushed criminal charges against an official of Sulpicio Lines and the ship captain in connection with the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy, a year after the maritime disaster. A report over radio dzXL quoted Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera as saying that prosecutors have recommended the filing of multiple homicide charges against Sulpicio shipping line's first vice president Edward Go and and the ship's captain Florencio Marimon. Devanadera said charges will still apply to Marimon as there is no proof yet that he was among those who perished in the accident. Marimon remains missing a year after the MV Princess of the Stars capsized off the coast of Sibuyan Island in Romblon province due to huge waves spawned by typhoon Frank on June 21, 2008. GMANews.TV contacted Go's office in Cebu but his secretary said he was out and there was no way to contact him. Four days after the tragedy, the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) began its investigation to determine administrative liabilities and recommend charges that should be filed against the vessel's owner, Sulpicio Lines, Inc. According to authorities, some 850 people went down with the 22,800-ton vessel that was on a 22-hour trip from Manila to Cebu in Central Visayas. Hundreds of people were feared trapped when the seven-story ship suddenly tilted amid rough seas and went belly up. Only about three dozen ferry survivors have been found, including 28 who drifted at sea for more than 24 hours, first in a life raft, then in life jackets, before they were found. Sulpicio Lines said it sailed with approval from the Coast Guard. The government ordered the company to suspend services pending an investigation and a check of its other ships' seaworthiness. Salvage work Meanwhile, salvage work on the ill-fated ship may drag on for another year, a radio report said Monday. Radio dzRH reported that Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said the salvage firm expects to remove all the cargo in two months and another 10 months to cut up the ship to get the wreckage out of the area. According to Madrona, the second part of the operation would involve removal of remains of other passengers believed trapped in the ship. In a separate radio interview Monday, Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said they expect salvage operations to go full blast. He added that remains of passengers that will be recovered would be turned over to appropriate agencies for DNA testing for proper identification of the victims. - GMANews.TV