THE Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 has ordered indemnification amounting to P199.1 million to 55 heirs of those who died in the sinking of M/V Princess of the Stars off Romblon in 2008.
The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) confirmed this in a press briefing Tuesday, October 19, saying the families of the victims were happy with the decision, which came 13 years after the sinking, considered one of the world’s biggest maritime disasters.
M/V Princess of the Stars capsized off Sibuyan Island in Romblon on January 21, 2008 at the height of Typhoon Frank. Of the 849 persons on board, only 32 survived. The incident prompted Sulpicio Lines Inc. to change its name in 2009 to Philippine Span Asia Carrier Inc. after incurring losses because of the tragedy.
PAO Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta said they received a copy of the Cebu RTC Branch 16 decision last October 18, 2021 with regard to the 59 consolidated cases filed before the said court.
Of the 59 cases, 55 were granted damages, while four were dismissed for their failure to present evidence.
She said the PAO will file appropriate motion for reconsideration on the four dismissed cases.
“Hindi nakarating yung apat na pamilya sa mga kadahilanang hindi inaasahan. Magsusumite kami ng motion for reconsideration dahil ang ebidensya sa isa ay dapat ebidensya sa lahat,” she said.
(The families were not able to attend the hearing due to some reasons. We will file a motion for reconsideration, because the evidence for one must be the evidence for all.)
She said the 55 families who won the case will receive a total of P199.1 in moral damages, exemplary damages, and loss of earning capacity, while attorneys’ fees equivalent to 10 percent of the total monetary award will be paid to PAO.
Acosta said the P199.9 million includes the P200,000 insurance proceeds that were not paid to two families.