Victims’ loved ones gather ten years after MV Princess of the Stars mishap

After ten years, justice for the victims of the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy has not been fully served, with grieving families still awaiting their damage claims as they continue to  nurse the misfortune's wound that is still fresh in their collective memory.

At a special Mass for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, the victims' relatives reminisced the tragedy that all too suddenly claimed the lives of their loved ones, GMA News' JP Soriano reported on "Balitanghali" on Friday.

On June 20, 2008, M/V Princess of the Stars left the port of Manila for its voyage to Cebu, carrying 849 people.

The supposedly unsinkable, giant, passenger ship never reached its destination as it capsized early on in its voyage in the waters of Sibuyan Island, Romblon, which at the time was at the center of Typhoon Frank's path.

More than 800 people died in the tragedy, and some are still missing. Only 32 survived.

Estella Laurel Geli –who lost her father, mother, and five younger siblings –expressed the pain of losing her family.

"Parang kahapon lang po nangyari ang paglubog ng barko. Masakit po, dahil hanggang ngayon iniisip pa rin namin sila," she said.

On the other hand, Josephine Padua longs for her daughter, Jacqueline, who would have been 13 years old by now.

"Bata pa lang hindi mo naparamdam yung pagmamahal mo sa kanya habang lumalaki," Josephine said.

Jacqueline was with her father, Roy, when the tragedy struck.

At the regional trial court of Manila, 71 families were awarded a total of more than P240 million in damage claims.

In an earlier report by GMA News Online, the total damage claims amounted to P241,761,256.34 with an imposed 12 percent a year interest for each claimant until fully paid.

However, some families claimed that they have not received anything amount yet.

According to Atty. Presida Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney's Office, "...Nag-apela ang defendant Sulipicio at ang may-ari ng barko ... sa Court of Appeals."

"Sa Marina naman, nanalo na ang mga kamag-anak ng biktima sa Court of Appeals. Hindi pwede magsakay ng tao ang Sulpicio. Cargo lang," she added.

GMA News is still trying to reach Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. (formerly Sulpicio Lines), who owns the capsized ship, for their reaction. —Maia Tria/LBG/NB, GMA News