Aquinas-Sulpicio collision damage Cordova mayor first on witness stand

CEBU, Philippines -  The petitioners of the $3 million lawsuit against the two shipping companies whose vessels collided last year at Lawis Ledge, Talisay City, presented Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy as their first witness in yesterday’s first hearing at the Mandaue City Regional Trial Court Branch 28.

 The hearing still pushed through despite the manifestation of the lawyers of 2GO Group, Inc. and Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. to resolve the temporary environment protection order sought by the petitioners to ensure that both companies pay the damages they are asking.

 Sitoy was only made to reaffirm his sworn affidavit before Judge Mercedita Dadolo-Ignacion, the same way the second witness, Yolando Escabas, a local fisher, also did when it was his time to sit as a witness.

 The mayor reaffirmed that there was massive oil spill in Cordova town shortly after both ships collided, causing damage to their environment and the way of living of their people, especially the fishermen, who were reportedly deprived of fishing because of the presence of the oil in the sea.

 In their affidavits, the members of the Pundok sa mga Mananagat sa Cordova, who also attended yesterday’s hearing, said the oil from the sunken MV Saint Thomas Aquinas has “irreversibly disrupted” mangroves and the town’s environment.

 With this, Cordova and the local fishers asked the court to let the two shipping companies pay $3 million to rehabilitate their ecology and at least P81 million in damages to cover the “loss of livelihood” of the local fishers.

The petitioners also included in the case the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the MARINA, claiming that the two agencies did not perform their jobs in helping Cordova.

 The case was filed last month, two days before the anniversary of the August 16, 2013 collision, which left 116 passengers and crew of the sunken Aquinas dead.  (FREEMAN)