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Thursday, August 07, 2008
Marina lifts ban on 2 of 8 Sulpicio ships
CEBU CITY -- The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) lifted the suspension on two vessels of Sulpicio Lines Inc. almost two months after its passenger fleet was grounded.
But Marina Administrator Vicente Suazo Jr. said the vessels cannot sail just yet because the ship safety certificate (SSC) issued by Marina has expired and needs to be renewed.
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The lifting of the suspension on MV Princess of the Earth and Cotabato Princess was reportedly signed by Marina deputy administrator for operations Primo Rivera.
Rivera told radio dyLA the two vessels were found seaworthy after passing a second audit conducted by Marina auditors.
Rivera told dyLA he was ordered by Transportation Undersecretary Maria Elena Bautista to lift the suspension. Bautista, in turn, was reportedly instructed to issue the order by Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza.
Suazo, when asked to comment, first denied there was such an order, saying the Marina Board did not issue one because it was still reviewing results of the second audit.
Suazo said only the Marina Board can lift suspension orders on vessels. The board is composed of Mendoza as chairman, with members from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), National Economic and Development Authority (Neda), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Office of the President and two private sector representatives.
When sought for comment again, Suazo confirmed the statement of Sulpicio Lines lawyer Maria Victoria Florido that the grounding of Princess of the Earth and Cotabato Princess was lifted by Rivera after they passed Marina's second audit.
Florido said the defects cited by Marina auditors during the first inspection have been corrected already.
Florido told radio dyLA that Sulpicio management received the order lifting the suspension the other day.
Although she said the officers and crew of the two vessels will be rehired by the company, she is not yet sure when the two vessels will resume operations.
Suazo said it was Rivera who signed the order because he was out of town at that time.
He said that while the grounding of Princess of the Earth and Cotabato Princess has been lifted, they cannot resume operations yet because their safety certificates have expired.
Renewal
"I instructed (Marina 7 Director) Glenn (Cabañez) to look and determine whether the two vessels will qualify for (SSC) renewal," Suazo said.
He said the ships' certificates of public conveyance, also known as franchises, are still considered valid unless revoked or canceled by Marina, upon the recommendation of a hearing panel.
Suazo said the "show-cause order" was issued by Marina to Sulpicio after the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars in Romblon last June 21.
Meanwhile, a Marina official, who refused to be named because he is not authorized to speak to media, said the power to lift the suspension belongs to the Marina Board and Bautista or even President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo do not have the authority to order the resumption of operations of the two vessels.
In a press conference at the Malacañang sa Sugbo last week, Mendoza said it was the President's wish that Sulpicio vessels that already passed audit should be allowed to resume operation.
Renew
Suazo said the audit of the other Sulpicio vessels is still subject to review and evaluation by the Marina Board.
Meanwhile, the man who climbed a telecommunications tower to draw attention to the families of the MV Princess of the Stars victims who needed help is back in Cebu.
Levy Samuele witnessed last Tuesday's filing of a civil suit against Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI).
He came with lawyers from the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), who are in Cebu this week with their chief, lawyer Persida Acosta.
Acosta is in Cebu to visit different jails and to brief Cebuano families on what to do before filing their complaints against Sulpicio.
The first batch of Cebuanos to sue the company over the Princess of the Stars tragedy filed their case last Tuesday. Among those who sued Sulpicio are Evelio and Luisa Peralta, who lost their son Evelio Jr.; Orlando and Anita Tigcom, who lost their daughter Ophelia; and Gloria Basnillo, who lost husband Glen Nomar.
Prior to the filing, they had a briefing with Acosta and lawyer G-Ree Calinawan, who heads the Cebu City PAO.
Samuele told Sun.Star Cebu that at least 10 more families plan to file their complaints this Friday.
After the initial batch, Samuele warned that civil suits will pour in almost daily starting next week.
He said he has already represented nine families in Manila in filing a civil suit against SLI. He also came to Cebu last July to gather Cebuanos whose relatives' bodies have been recovered from the sunken vessel, and those whose loved ones have not been found yet.
In the civil suit, the victims' relatives asked for actual, moral and exemplary damages and attorney's fees.
Applauded
Samuele gained media and public attention when he climbed a tower in Manila to ask the government and Sulpicio to pay attention and give aid to the relatives of the missing passengers and those who died in the June 21 tragedy.
When he joined the PAO in visiting jail facilities Wednesday, Acosta introduced him to Lapu-Lapu City jail inmates as the "representative" of the families of the MV Princess of the Stars victims.
Some inmates apparently recognized Samuele and applauded him.
During her visit in Cebu City last month, Acosta announced that PAO has been authorized to represent the families in their cases against Sulpicio. (EOB/KAB/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (August 7, 2008 issue)
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