Parents of seaman want P52.8 M from Sulpicio

The parents of a seaman from Bohol, who perished along with hundreds of others during the sinking of M/V Princess of the Stars last June, have filed a multi-million damage suit against Sulpicio Lines Inc. and the company officials.

Andres and Emelia Amit are asking for a total of P52.8 million in actual, moral and exemplary damages including attorneys’ fee from the shipping company before the Regional Trial Court over the death of their 27-year-old son, Dennis.

In a petition for damages against the shipping firm, its president Enrique Go, executive vice president Eusebio Go, executive vice president and chief executive officer Carlos Go, senior vice president and secretary Victoriano Go, 1st vice presidents Dominador Go, Eduard Go and Edgar Go and 1st vice president and treasurer Richard Go, the complainants said they were deprived of the family’s breadwinner, because of the respondents alleged negligence.

Even the missing ship captain, Florencio Marimon, was included in the list of respondents.

The Amit family is demanding P50.9 million in actual damages, which represents the victim’s would be income until his retirement, as he had just signed a contract with an international shipping company before he died.

They are also demanding P800,000 moral and exemplary damages and 20 percent of the total amount demanded as attorney’s fees.

The P1.160 million, which represents the 20 percent, will go to the national treasury because the victim was represented by the Public Attorneys’ Office.

The case filed by Amit yesterday was the sixth civil case to be filed in Cebu City by relatives of the victims of the sea tragedy.

The families of victims Ophelia Tigcom, Evelio Peralta Jr., Glen Nomar Basnillo, Aquilles Cellar and Herminigildo Garcia were the first to press charges.

The families alleged that the shipping company and its officials were liable for breach of contract and reckless imprudence resulting to the deaths and injuries of their loved ones.

It was allegedly demonstrated by the fact that despite the hoisting by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration of the storm signal number three, captain Marimon proceeded to steer the boat its normal course to Cebu.

According to them, MV Princess of the Stars went on while other vessels took shelter at Puerto Galera Cove, Oriental Mindoro and somewhere in Batangas.

As a common carrier, according to the complainants, the respondents should have exercised extra-ordinary diligence of care to prevent damages and injuries to its passengers.

The respondents’ alleged negligence was also shown in the report of the Philippine Coast Guard showing the alleged communication from the port captain that the MV Princess of the Stars experienced engine trouble.

Regional public attorney Maria G-Ree Calinawan said they will be filing more charges today.

Calinawan added that there are also families of at least seven crew members that sought PAO’s help in filing charges. – Fred P. Languido/NLQ