28th case filed against Sulpicio

CEBU - The brother of a drilling operator yesterday joined the long list of families that filed a civil case for damages against Sulpicio Lines, Inc. and its corporate officials over the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy.

Venerando Ermac filed on behalf of his mother, Esperanza, the 28th civil case for damages against the beleaguered shipping company over the death of his brother, Victorio, because of the alleged negligence of the SLI.

Ermac of Looc, Mandaue City is asking P3.4 million actual damages and P800,000 in moral and exemplary damages, excluding the attorney’s fee, from the shipping company.

Ermac said that his brother was in Manila for his job assignment as drilling operator. As a drilling operator, Victorio was reportedly earning P108,000 in annual salary.

On June 20, Victorio boarded the MV Princess of the Stars for Cebu, which went on with its voyage despite the entry of typhoon Frank in the country a day before the vessel’s scheduled trip.

“The alleged negligence of the shipping company, through its ship captain Florencio Marimon, who continues to be included in the list of respondents despite his confirmed death, had caused the death of Victorio,” the complaint read.

Ermac said the company’s negligence was evident in the vessel’s sailing to Cebu despite the fact that storm signal number three was already hoisted by the weather bureau in the provinces where the MV Princess of the Stars would pass by.

The shipping company and its officials allegedly failed to exercise extraordinary diligence of care to ensure the safety of passengers. – Fred P. Languido/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)