More than five years after the MV Princess of the Stars sank off Romblon, the families of more than 700 victims have yet to get justice, much less attend a court trial.
The families will have to wait longer after Cebu City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Soliver Peras referred the cases filed against the ship’s owner, Sulpicio Lines (now known as Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp.) to another court.
PSAC’s lawyers asked the judge to transfer the cases to another court as provided under the Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR).
Court rules state that the judge who tried to settle the issues through the JDR must “unload the case” and transfer it to another court, unless both parties agree to let him resolve the main case.
The rationale behind the rule is that the previous judge may have discovered information during the settlement proceedings that may affect the main case.
Maria Gree Calinawan, regional director of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), said they would have wanted Judge Peras to continue handling the case.
But Sulpicio’s lawyers asked Judge Peras to unload all the cases since he handled the JDR.
Calinawan said the PAO is seeking reconsideration.
“We’re definitely disappointed with this recent development. The cases will be delayed anew. If Judge Peras goes on to let another judge handle the cases, then we will be waiting again,” Calinawan said.
At least 63 cases were filed in the Cebu City RTC over the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars on June 21, 2008. The four cases were dismissed in other courts.
Quitclaim
In all dismissed cases, the courts took into consideration the “Release and Quitclaim Deed” signed by the families.
The court said signing the quitclaim deed waives the right of the victims’ families to pursue a second compensation. The dismissed cases are being reviewed by the Court of Appeals.
The MV Princess of the Stars owned by PSAC, formerly Sulpicio Lines Inc., sailed at the height of Typhoon Frank while en route to Cebu City with 820 people on board. It capsized off Romblon on June 21, 2008. Only 32 survived.