World | Philippines
Ferry tragedy families sue vessel owner
Families of some victims of a sea tragedy yesterday filed four civil cases against Sulpicio Lines Inc., the owner of a ferry that sunk resulting in about 700 deaths off central Philippines during a storm last month.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:02 July 31, 2008
Manila: Families of some victims of a sea tragedy yesterday filed four civil cases against Sulpicio Lines Inc., the owner of a ferry that sunk resulting in about 700 deaths off central Philippines during a storm last month.
Persida Rueda-Acosta, head of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), and Robert Reyes, dubbed the "running priest" accompanied five complainants, who included Shaine Lee Valdez, 3, Karylle Anne Ungsod, a one-year-and-seven-month-old child, Arlene Clarin, 45, Whilmore Hibe, 29, and Jocelyn Ungsod, 27.
They filed separate civil action for damages on the ground of SLI's breach of contract and negligence. The Clarins filed for damages worth 6.4 million pesos (Dh581,818); the Hibes, 4.472 million million; the Ungsods, 4.175 million pesos; and the Valdezes 800,000 pesos.
The amount for damages were based on the Supreme Court's mandated computation which factored in the salaries the victims had last received and their life expectancy, Acosta said.
Five similar charges were filed earlier by other relatives at Manila's regional trial court.
Earlier, the shipping company gave some relatives 200,000 each as compensation, prompting them to sign "quit claims" that prohibited them from filing charges against the company. But under the new civil code on transport laws, relatives of victims were entitled to 200,000 pesos payment since the passengers had paid for their insurance upon purchase of their tickets, Acosta argued.
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