‘Captain should have changed course’

At the height of typhoon Frank in 2008, MV Princess of the Stars took an “extremely dangerous” route from the Manila port to Cebu City.

This was the declaration of retired ship captain Amado Romillo, an expert witness  presented by the prosecution during the resumption of the trial on a civil suit filed against the ship’s management.

Instead of passing through the  west side of Mindoro, Romillo said the sunken ship made its regular route where the eye of the typhoon was situated.

“If I were the captain of the MV Princess of the Stars, I would have changed course,” Romillo said during his testimony.

The ship’s captain Florencio Marimon reportedly died during the sea mishap.

“Captain Marimon is more experienced than me. He has more experience in dealing with typhoons. Why did he took that (usual) route? I’m baffled. That (route taken by Marimon) was done deliberately,” said 80-year-old Romillo.

Using a nautical chart or map, Romillo explained to Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras of Branch 10 the route of the MV Princess of the Stars since it left the Manila North Harbor on Jan. 20, 2008.

Romillo also showed the path of the typhoon as well as the possible options of Captain Marimon.

The MV  Princess  of the  Stars  capsized off Romblon at the height of Typhoon Frank while enroute to Cebu City with 820 people on board on June 21, 2008.

Only 32 survived.

Romillo said Romblon was within the typhoon zone when the ship left the Manila port.

Lawyer Persida Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney’s Office, said Romillo’s testimonies proved that there was negligence on the part of ship officials who decided to travel despite an impending typhoon.

PAO secured the testimonies of Romillo, a retired captain from a different ship company.

Romillo used to work in an international shipping company. He was also a former member of the Board of Marine Inquiry and took part in the investigation of the sunken MV Princess of the Orient.

Acosta along with families and relatives of the victims were present during the court proceedings last  Friday afternoon.

Trial resumes on Sept. 8.

At least 63 cases were filed in the Cebu City court against Sulpicio Lines Inc. (presently named Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp.) over the sinking of the MV  Princess  of the Stars, the company’s flagship vessel, on June 21, 2008.

The cases were consolidated and remain pending before Judge Peras. /Ador Vincent S. Mayol, Reporter