Seaman's ma seeks P1.5 million vs Edago

CEBU, Philippines – A mother of a seaman has filed civil charges against a shipping company for the death of her son who was one of the crewmembers of the M/V Edago Expedition that sank a year ago off the waters of Antique province.

Enriqueta Silagan has asked the Edago Lighterage Phils. Inc and its owner Eduardo Ang Gobonseng to pay P1.5 million in damages and attorneys fees for the loss of her son Arnel, who worked as a seaman of the said cargo ship.

Edago Lighterage Philippines Inc. is the owner of the ill-fated cargo ship M/V Edago Expedition that sank off the waters off Pocio Point in Maniguin Island, Antique.

Silagan said her son was among the crew who died in the sinking of the ship in May last year.

Only two of the ship’s 14 crewmembers were accounted for. Chief mate Lamberto Araquez and quartermaster Revy June Nankil were rescued by an Indonesian vessel near Boracay Island.

Enriqueta said that her 28-year-old son worked as an ordinary seaman with a salary of P15,000 to P30,000.

The 248.2-gross tonnage ship was carrying salt and left the port of Occidental Mindoro around 2 p.m. on May 14, 2008 bound for Zamboanga when it met an accident, according to the Coast Guard report. — Jasmin R. Uy/WAB (THE FREEMAN)