Bishops call for justice to victims, slam Sulpicio invocation of 'act of God'

BY GERARD NAVAL

BISHOP Broderick Pabillo, chair of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace, yesterday said nothing less than a "fruitful" investigation would give justice to victims of the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy.

The auxiliary bishop of Manila said he is confident that the Board of Marine Inquiry would find out who are responsible for the sea tragedy.

The BMI started its probe on Wednesday by questioning officials of Sulpicio Lines.

"Sana naman ay maging open sila sa imbestigasyon at kung ano man ang kalabasan ay sundin nila. Sana rin ay tuparin nila ang mga pangako nila sa mga pamilya na namatayan," Pabillo said.

The shipping firm has promised P200,000 and medical assistance to victims and families of those who died.

Pabillo called on the families of the victims not to lose hope in the light of pronouncements by authorities Wednesday that chances of finding survivors are getting slim.

Senate majority leader Sen. Francis Pangilinan suggested that regional trial courts be designated as maritime courts in the interest of the effective administration of justice and expeditious disposition of cases.

He said the special maritime courts would hear cases on "sinking vessels, collisions, allusions and fire, whenever such accidents result in loss of lives, injuries and destruction or damage to property."

"We need to expedite these processes if we are to promote vigilance and efficiency in the shipping industry and instill fear for the rule of law."

He said unscrupulous shipping companies and ship personnel often get away from their liabilities because of the slow dispensation of justice, aggravated by the lack of special maritime courts.

Sen. Mar Roxas II said the government could help ease the burden on families of victims by facilitating and expediting necessary documents.

"Hindi na dapat inaalala ng mga pamilya ang gastos at mga legal na proseso," he said.

He said expenses can be covered through the Presidential Social Fund which is collected from agencies such as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

"The President has discretionary funds for such contingencies and must spend as needed to help ease the plight of all those anxiously waiting for word on their kin, or those whose relatives have already been found among the casualties," he said.

As of Dec. 31, 2007, the PSF had a balance of P2.7 billion, according to the Commission on Audit. Forty percent of Pagcor proceeds goes to the fund.

The Association of Major Religious in the Philippines (AMRSP) will send member-nuns to provide spiritual counseling to victims of the sea tragedy.

"More than material things, ang kailangan nila ngayon ay ang matinding counseling and spiritual assistance," AMRSP chairperson Sr. Mary John Mananzan told Radio Veritas.

The AMRSP previously gave spiritual counseling to victims of the landslide in Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte in February 2006.

Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani criticized Sulpicio officials for saying that the tragedy was "an act of God."

"Siguro ayaw nilang aminin na nagkamali sila. Pagka sinabing 'act of God,' yung 'force majeure,' ibig sabihin noon, wala talagang magagawa ang tao sa bagay na iyan. Kaya ang gusto nilang (Sulpicio) sabihin e. wala kaming kasalanan at hindi namin kasalanan yung paglakad nitong barko na ikinamatay ng mga tao," Bacani told Radio Veritas.

On Wednesday, Sulpicio lawyer Arthur Lim, reading a report from Manila Port Capt. Benjamin Eugenio, said the wind and waves or "act of God" caused the ship to capsize.

Bacani said it could be worse if the human error made by Sulpicio Lines was prodded by "unseen hands."

"Huwag ang Diyos ang sisisihin kundi ang pagkakamali ng tao at ang maling desisyon ng mga tao," he said.

Cebu-based relatives of victims of the Princess of the Stars urged the publication or airing of photos of the fatalities, saying it would help in their identification.

They noted Masbate residents had taken photos and videos of many of the victims who had been buried there.

The relatives suggested that the photos feature unique features like birthmarks and tattoos for easier identification. - With Dennis Gadil