Sulpicio owners given a
week to reply to charges

A PANEL of prosecutors yesterday refused to accept the counter-affidavits of Sulpicio Lines owners during a hearing on the complaint filed by victims of the sinking of the ill-fated MV Princess of the Stars.

The owners of the ship snubbed anew the preliminary investigation on the case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple physical injury and damage to property filed by the families of the victims.

Named respondents were Sulpicio president Enrique Go; executive vice-president and chief executive officer Carlos Go; senior vice president and secretary, Victoriano Go; first vice presidents Dominador and Edgar Go. Ship captain Florencio Marimon was likewise impleaded in the suit but his name was later dropped following reports that he also perished in the sea tragedy.

Panel chair senior state prosecutor Ma. Emilia Victorio said they cannot receive the counter-affidavits of respondents because they were not present to attest to the veracity of their statements. She junked the argument of respondents’ lawyer Victoria Florida that her clients subscribed their statements before a fiscal in Cebu where the counter-affidavits were executed. The state prosecutor said there should have been a written certification from the fiscal stating that the affidavits have been duly scrutinized and sworn before him.

Florida said the Gos did not show up at the hearing since they have already submitted their sworn statements. She said Carlos Go was in a hospital for a heart ailment.

Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta pointed out that the Gos owe it to the victims to show up and they have the money to make the trip, pointing out that her own clients were able to make it to the hearing despite their poverty.

The panel gave the respondents until Nov. 13 to personally appear before any member of the panel to submit their counter-affidavits, and the complainants 15 days within which to file their reply.