Sotto, Romulo eyed as witnesses in Marina probe

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said yesterday she will call on Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente Sotto III and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo to testify before the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) panel determining if Sulpicio Lines Inc.’s (SLI) certificate of public convenience (CPC) should be cancelled.

She said the two men conducted committee investigations on separate maritime accidents when they were still senators.

“They recommended the prosecution of those responsible for those who died while at sea and… that cases be filed against them in court and filing of quasi-judicial cases,” Acosta said.

Romulo’s report was on the m/v Doña Paz, while Sotto’s findings discussed the m/v Princess of the Orient. Both vessels are owned by the SLI, the company that also owned the m/v Princess of the Stars, whose sinking prompted the Marina inquiry.

“It is important for Marina to hear and know about these recommendations, which at that time were not given proper action by the concerned authorities. It is timely that we reform our maritime laws,” Acosta said.

She noted that about 5,500 people have died from the sinking of the three ships, and SLI vessels m/v Doña Marilyn and m/v Princess of Tacloban.

However, Acosta is still waiting for the Marina board to decide on whether to consolidate a petition filed by PAO for the cancellation of SLI’s franchise to carry human passengers with the main petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General to cancel SLI’s CPC. The panel is expected to come out with a decision in five days.

Meanwhile, SLI spokeswoman Ma. Victoria Lim-Florido said m/v Princess of the Stars captain Florencio Marimon Sr. is already dead. “The body of the good captain has been found and positively identified through DNA matching of the National Bureau of Investigation,” she said.

With Marimon gone, Attorney Florido said they would now only rely on the testimonies of a mess man, a cook and two cleaners who survived the mishap.

Acosta said she is not fully convinced since they have not received evidence proving Marimon is dead.