Another lawsuit is filed vs. SLI; more victims identified via DNA

CEBU - Civil cases for damages continue to pile up against Sulpicio Lines Inc. and its corporate officials over the sinking of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars in the seawaters off Romblon at the height of Typhoon Frank last June 21.

Aurelio Tangpos filed the 27th case before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City yesterday against ship Capt. Florencio Marimon, Enrique S. Go., SLI president; Eusebio S. Go, executive vice president; Carlos S. Go, executive vice president and chief executive officer; Victoriano S. Go, senior vice president and secretary; Dominador S. Go, 1st vice president; Ricardo S. Go, 1st vice president and treasurer; Edward S. Go, 1st vice president, and the directors officers of the shipping firm.

Tangpos, of barangay Banhigan, Dalaguete town, is demanding almost P2 million in actual, moral and exemplary damages from SLI because of the company’s alleged negligence that resulted to the death of his wife Sarah who went to Manila to visit her cousin. Aurelio, who is left with three children, demanded P769,909 in actual damages and P800,000 in moral and exemplary damages excluding the 20-percent of the total damages demanded as attorneys’ fees.

Aurelio said the company’s negligence was evident in the vessel’s sailing to Cebu despite Storm Signal No. 3 being hoisted by the weather bureau in the provinces where the M/V Princess of the Stars would pass.

The shipping company and its officials allegedly failed to exercise extraordinary diligence of care to ensure the safety of its passengers.

Meanwhile, another batch of Typhoon Frank victims identified through their DNA have been released. These are Lydio Apdohan (male), 31, of Pardo, Cebu City; Verulo Caballero (male), 43, of Sogod town, Cebu; Jenelyn Caray (female), 27, of Tuburan town, Cebu; Alberto Decipulo (male), 27, of La Libertad, Negros Oriental; Joel Eballena (male) 28, of Caticugan, Siquijor; Macario Ignacio Jr. (male), 33, of A. Padilla St. Cebu City; Jamie Lyn La Luna (female), 22, of Las Pinas City; Eddie Osabel (male), 35, of Minglanilla town, Cebu; Eric Rubio (male), 31, of McArthur Blvd, Cebu City; Russel Singco (male), 38, of Ginatilan town, Cebu; and Arnulfo Toston (male), 41, of Getafe, Bohol.

Interpol’s Incident Response Team (IRT) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) urged the families of Typhoon Frank victims who have yet to give blood samples from at least two direct relatives to call the DNA forensic team at telephone number (032) 2560491 to 93 local 26 within office hours, Monday to Friday for information on how to go about having the required blood samples taken for the proper identification of their loved ones.