Monday, July 07, 2008 House inquiry on Stars starts By Linette C. Ramos Sun.Star Staff Reporter
A LOWER House committee wants to find out whet-her or not the mv Princess of the Stars was in good condition when it sailed directly into the path of typhoon Frank and sank off Romblon Province last June 21.
In a fact-finding inquiry today, the House committee on transportation will also verify reports on defects of the Sulpicio Lines Inc. vessel, including the ship design and the lack of communication equipment
Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district) said he consulted 88 relatives of victims of the Princess of the Stars sinking at his residence yesterday to gather information that can be used during the inquiry.
Among other concerns, the committee will validate allegations and “disturbing” reports that the vessel was not seaworthy when it sailed.
The ferry was originally built for only two floors, but the company allegedly altered the design to accommodate five more floors.
Find crew
Cuenco, a member of the committee, said he will request the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Force of the Philippines (ISAFP) to locate crew members.
He believes the crew, especially those assigned at the engine room and the upper deck, can tell the committee about the vessel’s condition.
Insurance claims of the victims’ families and the vessels’ insurance coverage will also be checked to verify reports that Sulpicio Lines Inc.’s ships are “over-insured.”
When asked for the implications of the vessels’ insurance coverage on the investigation, Cuenco said: “Dagko ilang (The vessels have big) insurance (coverage), so why would the owner care (if they all capsize)? If the vessel sinks, they can collect a lot of money. Ang implication ani, dako kaayo sila og makuha pero gamay ra ilang ihatag sa (They can get a big sum from insurance coverage but give just a small amount to the) victims.”
“Again, these are just malicious thoughts of some people that I heard and want to verify…. I am not ready to point an accusing finger at Sulpicio at this time; that will be unfair. But I want them (owners) to answer these nagging questions,” the congressman added.
Insurance
The committee may also conduct an ocular inspection when the mv Princess of the Stars is re-floated. This could take up to three months, because transportation authorities focus on removing from the ship’s cargo hold a shipment of toxic pesticides.
Rep. Monico Fuentebel-la (Bacolod), House of Representatives’ committee on transportation chairman, will lead the inquiry at 1:30 p.m. today.
“This will just be a fact-finding inquiry. If the facts warrant the prosecution of some people and the cancellation of their (Sulpi-cio’s) certificate of public convenience, we will do so. Congress has the power to cancel it (certificate),” Cuenco said.
He urged other Cebuano lawmakers to attend the inquiry, since most of the victims are from Cebu.
During the consultation, the families appealed for the immediate identification of the recovered bodies. Over 200 bodies have been shipped to Cebu, but so far fewer than 10 have been identified.
Cuenco assured them he will bring up the matter before the committee.
“There are many angles and questions that I want to be answered. First and foremost is the seaworthiness of the vessel. I want to check reports that it was not able to evade the typhoon because the engine conked out. How can it evade when the engine won’t start? I want to verify that,” he said.
Cuenco said he learned that when a Cebu-bound vessel of Sulpicio sailed last March 9, its engine also conked out four times.
Franchise
If the investigation results show that Sulpicio Lines can be held liable for the tragedy, the Lower House can cancel the franchise or certificate of public convenience it issued to the shipping company.
Cuenco said, though, that the company could be operating without a franchise but with an executive permit issued by the different government agencies.
“If their franchise is not valid and they are operating with an executive permit only, then we will require them to get a franchise,” he added.
The certificate of public convenience is a congressional franchise that allows utility companies to operate in the country.
Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella earlier suggested that instead of just a permit from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to operate sea routes, shipping firms should also get a congressional franchise.
This way, regulations and guidelines will be meticulously scrutinized and clearly defined for better service, and a clear set of sanctions will be put in place. Legislators can also examine the seaworthiness of vessels and the competence of crew members and officers. (LCR)
