DOJ to form panel to determine criminal liability of Sulpicio execs

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) will form a panel of prosecutors to study the possibility of filing criminal and civil charges against the officers of Sulpicio Lines, owner of the MV Princess of the Stars that capsized off Romblon province last June 21. This was after the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) found the shipping firm criminally liable in the sea tragedy that killed more or less 800 people, most of them passengers of MV Princess of the Stars. "We are closely studying the BMI report and we recommend the filing of criminal charges if the situation warrants,” Gonzalez said in a press briefing Wednesday. The Justice chief said negligence resulting to multiply homicide and serious physical injuries could be filed against the officers of Sulpicio Lines. The BMI report said Sulpicio Line's negligence should be reason enough for the revocation of its certificate of public convenience (CPC), the permit allowing the company to transport people on its ships. Gonzalez said that such recommendations should be studied closely as the cancellation of the CPC is tantamount to the scrapping of Sulpicio Lines' franchise to operate and could have a severe impact on the county’s marine transport system. He however said the panel can only recommend to Congress whether or not to revoke the franchise of Sulpicio Lines. ”The act of revoking the franchise of Sulpicio is lodged with Congress,” he said. Sulpicio fleet amounts to about 30 percent of the country’s merchant marine fleet and removing this tonnage from service could triggere a shipping shortage, Gonzalez said. - GMANews.TV