Monday, September 1, 2008

Princess of the Stars inquiry may result in criminal prosecution for Sulpicio Lines

Philippine prosecutors may file criminal charges and civil charges against the officers of Sulpicio Lines for negligence resulting in multiple homicide and serious physical injury for the 800 deaths when it’s ‘Princess of the Stars’ ferry sank during a typhoon.

A special panel of prosecutors was examining an official investigation by the Board of Marine Inquiry that concluded that the ship's captain was at fault for the ferry capsizing. Sulpicio Lines has been given 30 days to appeal the findings and recommendations of the inquiry, which has concluded that that human error caused the sinking of the passenger ferry. The inquiry has pointed the finger of blame in the direction of missing (and presumed dead) ferry captain Florencio Marimon Sr, said to have miscalculated the risks of the voyage to Cebu at the height of typhoon Frank. In its findings, the BMI has also held Sulpicio Lines liable for failing to stop its captain from sailing despite bad weather conditions and has recommended the suspension of Sulpicio Lines' franchise Sulpicio vessels account for about 30% of the country's merchant marine fleet and stopping them from sailing could trigger a shipping shortage.
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