Kaban ni D_BystandeR: MGA KALAG SA BIKTIMA SA BARKO MAG-ALBUROTO

Edgar Go, Vice President for Administration of Sulpicio Lines Inc., cannot validly wash his hands to disown responsibility for the loss of lives of 800 passengers of  its ship M/V "Princess of the Stars" bound for Cebu City which left Manila in the morning of June 20, 2008 because of his order given to the ship Captain Marimon to take alternate route to escape the designated path of Typhoon Frank on that fateful day. The reason was probably intended to avoid the huge expenses to be spent for food if the ship will postpone the trip for another day to let the typhoon pass by. The management failed to anticipate for the loss of precious lives which no amount of worldly treasure can ever compensate for the loss. And yet the courts manned by human beings whose priorities in life could have been blurred by monetary considerations offered at their footsteps failed to appreciate the valid arguments propounded by different groups and interested parties in their motion for reconsideration. The souls of the dead will surely find justice not in this world of ours but only God can give justice to their souls probably through some other means.

Footnote: The Headline: "Sulpicio Exec Cleared With Finality From Criminal Charges," in Philstar issue of Jan. 23, 2014. In a three-page decision released yesterday, the former 15th Division of the Court of Appeals stood firm in its earlier decision absolving Edgar Go on charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries and damage to properties.