Saturday, June 28, 2008 Public lawyers give legal aid to victims
THE country’s chief public attorney is in Cebu to help survivors and the victims’ families in the possible filing of criminal and administrative complaints against Sulpicio Lines Inc.
That, as Presidential Management Staff Chief Cerge Remonde promised that all efforts will be exerted for the victims and their families to receive financial aid as soon as possible.
He said the Sulpicio management gave its commitment for aid, but added that the certification process may take some time, particularly because experience shows there will always be spurious claimants.
In a TV Patrol Central Visayas report, Ryan Bernard Go of Sulpicio Lines appealed to the public to be patient.
“This is not only a tragedy but a national calamity,” Go said in the report, which identified him as one of the com-pany’s vice presidents.
He assured that the company isn’t running away from its responsibilities, and is also distraught after losing not just passengers but also their trusted crew.
Also yesterday, Sulpi-cio Lines assured the Board of Marine Inquiry it is giving the families P200,000 for every fatality, and is setting aside P144 million for financial assistance.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu City chapter will help those who would like to file a case but cannot afford to do so.
The decision, contained in one of two resolutions the chapter passed, was reached after a board meeting presided by lawyer Briccio Joseph Boholst yesterday afternoon.
In the first of two resolutions passed yesterday, the IBP Cebu City Chapter called for a review of all Philippine maritime laws by agencies that are supposed to implement them.
“This isn’t the first incident for the industry in general,” IBP Cebu City Director Piedad “Bingo” Gonzales said, quoting other IBP officers who attended the closed-door meeting.
The second resolution allocated P10,000 from the organization’s funds for the purchase of bottled water to be distributed to flood victims in Iloilo.
In a separate interview, Chief Public Attorney Persida Acosta said they responded after receiving a letter from survivors and family members asking for legal assistance.
The request was also endorsed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption through a letter sent by its chairman Dante Jimenez.
“We can be called upon to help. The indigency requirement can be waived by the President,” Acosta said.
In response, Remonde said, “We will issue that directive.”
The City Hall’s quick response did not go unnoticed. Remonde thanked Carillo and Acting Mayor Michael Rama for the assistance, particularly in setting up a help desk just hours after the ferry sank.
The City Government has so far spent around P1 million for food given to the relatives waiting in the Cebu City Sports Center.
The National Government, according to Remon-de, strengthened the City’s operation center, first established at the Sulpicio Pier 5 terminal, by bringing in personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and the Public Attorney’s Office.
He said that families and relatives can avail themselves of free legal aid 24 hours a day.
“If Sulpicio will not fulfill its obligations, the PAO will be constrained to do our best to provide justice,” Acosta said.
“We hope that will not be necessary,” Remonde replied.
Carillo, who called a separate meeting with a handful of Cebu City-based lawyers, welcomed the IBP’s move and called on other volunteer legal assistance groups to do the same.
He referred to how lawyers volunteered to help in the case involving another Sulpicio Lines ship, the mv Princess of the Orient, almost 10 years ago. (RHM/KNR)
