MV Princess of the Stars Tragedy & Guessing Game
Anna de Brux of Manila Baywatch believes that this disaster could have been avoided in her update on the tragedy where she also cites Manolo Quezon:
Sulpicio Lines has probably set a world record as the most ill-fated steamship company in history. One sea tragedy is bad enough, two become highly suspicious but a third? One is bound to believe that there's been utter criminal neglect after a series of sea tragedies resulting in thousands of deaths are registered.
This is yet another sad event that plagues the nation and the loss of lives could have been avoided if only the authorities are doing their job accordingly and business enterprises operates safeguarding the well being and safety of their passengers. Bottom line is when corruption is endemic complying with rules and regulations that safeguard the safety of their passengers are compromised.
What is so frustrating in a nation with endemic corruption is that they play a deadly and disastrous guessing game but unlike the children’s truth and consequence the only ones suffering the consequence are the paying customers and their grieving relatives. Truth be told but in a nation where lying is prevalent digging for the truth is like digging your grave and those with enough resources wins the battle in muddling the issues.
It does not help that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is on a junket to the
In the meantime Sulpicio Lines has uploaded the passenger manifest, updated list of survivors and crew list, send inquiries via email at sulpicio@sulpiciolines.com or call their Manila Hot line at (02) 242-4258, (02) 474-5205 (02) Cebu (032) 5162728 Mobile 09174228344, 09174228339
See also:
- Princess of the Stars Tragedy & Sulpicio Lines’ Cruel Lawsuit Jokes
- BLOGSWARM to Stop Sulpicio Lines Floating Mass Graveyards
- Shameless & Dense Philippine Politicians
- MV Princess of the Orient Victims Win Civil Suit
- Trapos and Sulpicio Lines on to the usual deadly game
- MV Princess of the Stars Tragedy & GMA’s Presidential Junket
- MV Princess of the Stars turned Graveyard of the Seas
Subscribe in a reader 
Filipinos 
pinoyblogosphere pbs 
pinoy blogosphere 
philippineblogosphere pbs 
philippine blogosphere
4 Speak Out:
I am sceptical. We will probably only half truths -- the maritime industrialists, i.e., Sulpicio Lines, will have protectors in the various agencies that oversee maritime transport.
It is imperative more than ever to dig into the accident.
Right off the bat:
1) we want to know why Princess of the Stars was allowed to sail; what was the real score in terms of storm/typhoon signal
2) on seamanship: was the captain under pressure to sail come what may? under the circumstances, in typhoon environment, the last word is from the lord and master of the ship, the captain, to sail or not to sail. no force on earth could change that. Even in the military, the captain of the ship cannot be forced to sail if the captain believes that the weather conditions are or can prove extremely hazardous to his men and to the ship, to materiel.
3) Sulpicio Lines' maintenance records should be investigated
4) MARINA and Coast Guard officials must be confronted to find out why and how a 23000 ton ship was certified seaworthy when its engines conked out only a few hours after leaving port
5) finally, it is imperative to know how adequate safety measures were on board; the most important thing to determine -- if only for the sake of avoiding future disasters of this magnitude, i.e., number of lives lost, (in a sea disaster, it is very difficult not to lose lives but it possible to minimise loss of lives) before that fatidic moment when the Abandon ship order was given, what happened ? Were the crew up to managing the foreseeable disaster?
This may sound hard or callous but it is not. The captain and his crew's prime responsibility were first and foremost to the passengers...their lives came in second... had they been up to it?
Anna,
You have raised very valid points and yes I too am skeptical whether we are going to know the truth..... it has always been this way since.
It is just amazing that Sulpicio Lines are allowed to operate to this day when they have the worst record of unsafe infractions. The biggest and worse maritime disaster in the world in the sinking of the overloaded ferry Doña Paz 20 years ago sending 4,375 people to their death. 3 times the casualties of the Titanic, that alone should have been enough for the industry and their regulators to implement safety standards.
Sadly, patronage and corruption combined with greed ensures that this floating mass graveyard to sail instead of seeing those culpable paying for their criminal disregard for the safety and well being of the passengers.
Greetings, JW. Bumped into you or vice versa in MBW. This is my first visit to your blog and I like it – it’s not so pedestrian. Neither are your pet peeves -- patronage, corruption and greed -- binary attributes akin to tango (they all take two) donor and donee. They are global maladies (except tango) that are difficult to shuck but in Pinas we seem to have more than the average.
Welcome to POGB Orly, I did not know that you are a blogger too, so I made a correction on the link where I quoted you from Anna's article in this follow up article on MV Princess of the Stars turned graveyard of the seas. I am glad you like POGB hope to see you often and will be doing the same on your blog.
Post a Comment