The Supreme Court’s Third Division has reinstated criminal cases against Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) vice president for administration Edgar Go over the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars nearly a decade ago.
“(T)he consolidated petitions for review are granted. The decision of the Court of Appeals is reversed and set aside. The Regional Trial Court of Manila Branch 5 is ordered to forthwith reinstate the criminal case as against respondent Go,” the SC ruled in a 20-page decision dated Dec. 10, 2018.
In its decision, the high court said that while the shipping firm’s officials faced civil liabilities for failing to safely deliver its passengers, they also face criminal liabilities for possible negligence which resulted in deaths and injuries.
To recall, Court of Appeals dismissed the reckless imprudence charges against Go over the tragedy – where a total of 227 people died, 592 went missing while only 32 survived.
Go led the crisis management team of the company which handled the incident when the ship under Captain Florencio Marimon capsized and sank in waters off Romblon at the height of Typhoon Frank.
The Board of Marine Inquiry, in its investigation report dated August 18, 2008, stated that SLI and its senior officers failed to ensure the safety of the vessel and its cargo because it did not assess the potential danger of Typhoon Frank.
It added that SLI failed to monitor the condition of the vessel during the critical moment on the morning of June 21 when the vessel was about 40 nautical miles from the typhoon.
The shipping firm also allegedly did not inform the Philippine Coast Guard immediately when the vessel lost contact with the company that morning.
