(UPDATE) AFFIRMING its decision that Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) committed “gross negligence and bad faith” for the sinking of MV Princess of Stars in 2008, the Court of Appeals (CA) ordered the shipping company to pay relatives of the victims P136,329,914.38 in damages.
The appellate court, in its amended July 2025 decision, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, reaffirmed the liability of the shipowners — Enrique Go, Eusebio Go, Carlos Go, Victoriano Go, Dominador Go, Ricardo Go, Edward Go and Edgar Go.
It said that “they were grossly negligent in directing its affairs and they are solidarily liable with the PSACC to the appellees,” referring to the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp., the new name of SLI.
Persida Rueda-Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), which handles the civil cases of the victims’ heirs and relatives, hailed the CA’s amended decision, saying they knew from the start that the shipowners were criminally and civilly liable.
For the four survivors — Gerardo Pelimer, Francisco Batula, Sosan Lisbo and Rodel Laborte — the court awarded each of them P400,000 in moral damages and P400,000 in exemplary damages.
“The survivors-appellants had to struggle to survive the raging storm. In the course of their struggle, they had to witness their loved ones die,” the CA said.
A PAO insider said that one of the survivors developed a phobia of water.
“But now, he’s OK,” she said.
In the same ruling, the appellate court noted that seven of the victims’ heirs and relatives, led by Regina Reyes, did not ask for actual and compensatory damages when they filed their motion for reconsideration.
“Nonetheless, given the court’s finding that the appellants (Gos) were grossly negligent, they are indubitably entitled to moral and exemplary damages under the law,” the justices said.
“As borne by the evidence on record, the actuations of the appellants during the incident attending the unfortunate sinking of the Stars were far below the standard of care and circumspection that the law on common carriers demanded,” the amended decision said.
The MV Princess of Stars sank off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon, during Typhoon Frank on June 21, 2008, killing 814 passengers.
