Sulpicio Lines Must Be Stopped!

Written on Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 5:44 pm | by Nick

As I have been anguishing in the past few days, along with the many families of the passengers on The MV Princess of The Stars, a Sulpicio Line ship, my anger has also risen to unfathomable heights. The murderous nature of this shipping company must stop. If for no other reason than to help future victims of Sulpicio and to give justice to the thousands of lives lost because of the inadequacies of this company.

Right now, my family does not need money, it needs prayers. As early as within a day of the disaster, Sulpicio Lines was already putting a number on the lives of the victims. P200k?!

HEARTLESS BASTARDS!

And in the coming days and weeks, my number one goal is to see to it that Sulpicio Lines will be brought down to its knees and have its days in business numbered. I want a lawsuit and criminal cases filed against this murderous company. I hope the families come together on this, and I am hoping that a few brave lawyers, outstanding lawyers, will take up this case and this cause. To bring an end to the murderous nature of this company.

When what matters are the lives of the passengers, the rescue of the passengers, and the identification of the bodies, Sulpicio has done nothing but make excuses and make the lives of the families of the passengers miserable. Instead of giving comfort and assurance, they are trying to save face, and rescue their image. They are embarking on a set policy that they have perfected in their murderous years of operation, in order to make any future compensation too little, and too hard to receive. They are implementing a policy in order to keep their company afloat.

NO FORMALIN. LACK OF BODY BAGS. MASS GRAVES. NO CLEAR PROCESS.

And now, as reports come in, they even had the audacity to keep from authorities and the public that there were dangerous pesticides in its cargo, all the while as the brave rescuers are trying their best to get to the victims still inside the capsized ship.

CRIMINALS displaying arrogance and clearly a negligence not only to the families, but to the rescuers and divers.

And what the hell was the government and Sulpicio Lines waiting for during the initial hours and days? For the dead to take care of themselves, to put themselves in body bags, and not to rot and decompose. Sulpicio is trying to swindle the victim’s families so that they can keep their worthless business afloat.

For a nation that is so used to having natural calamities ravage the archipelago, why doesn’t anyone in this “natural disaster team” have the foresight to have such materials as body bags and formalin ready in waiting. Do we not have planes that can drop these supplies in a moments notice? Why the hell do we have to resort to slow-ass Sulpicio boats to deliver these damn supplies? What is this, the middle-ages?

The first thing to have been done is to make a full blown rescue effort possible, this is the responsibility of both government and Sulpicio. Two tug boats in the first 24 hours? Is that enough?

Next is to secure the bodies for identification, especially for DNA testing, not to dump them in mass graves! Again, where is the President’s men on all of this? Do we not have too many disasters under our belt to have perfected any sort of disaster relief effort?

These organizations should know better.

How would they like it if we throw their family members to the ocean, to let them drown, and then let them decompose, throw them in mass graves, and then tell them that bahala na sila to get them out of those graves and identify for themselves.

What the hell? Have they been drinking all the formalin?

According to my family, the buried will still have to be identified, and it seems that Sulpicio may have to let the families fend for themselves and recover the bodies if they still can’t find their loved ones. And the DNA testing, the medical tests, it seems that Sulpicio may have the families pay for these tests themselves. I cannot confirm, well, because Sulpicio only issues vague press releases on how they are doing their best.

SELFISH BASTARDS!

I think now, the best way to get at Sulpicio is a series of actions that will not only boycott their company, but pursue criminal actions, especially in the light of the new revelation that they failed to inform authorities and the public that the ship had poisonous pesticides in its cargo. Lawsuits should be filed, and we should keep the pressure. This is for my cousin, all the other victims, and all the affected families.

SULPICIO LINES must be stopped, the sooner the better.

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About The Author: Nick is a passionate Filipino, and a political junkie. His personal blog is at Tingog - The Voice of The Filipino. He is the founder and Editor not Chief of FilipinoVoices.com. He has been blogging since 2006.

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12 Responses to “Sulpicio Lines Must Be Stopped!”

  1. benign0 on June 27th, 2008 7:40 pm

    I think the goal should not only be the closure of Sulpicio, but also the imprisonment of key executives (or the owners themselves).

    It’s all up to The Pinoy. And it’s all up to their ability to mobilise the politicians they ELECTED.

    Street revolutions have been incited and organised for LESSER things. It’s time that the REAL THINGS THAT MATTER are given long overdue attention.

  2. Nick on June 27th, 2008 7:48 pm

    I AGREE BENIGN0… imprisonment for these murderers!

  3. benign0 on June 27th, 2008 7:53 pm

    I don’t think they are murderers because there probably was no pre-meditation in this instance. But even then, there is culpability for negligence.

    But then as I said, it’s up to the Pinoy to put a rocket up the arses of their representatives. Otherwise this will simply be swept under the rug.

    If a disaster of the magnitude of 4000 dead could be so easily and quietly dropped from the collective awareness back in 1987, then 800 could be an easy walk in the park.

    So, I can’t emphasise enough: IT’S UP TO DA PINOY.

  4. AdB on June 27th, 2008 9:43 pm

    Nick, with you there but there is a a need for Filipinos to do what is necessary, to have a united front, TO ACT now in order to obtain justice in the real sense of the word even if it means bringing down Sulpicio Lines and authorities that allowed this to happen.

    Benigno is right to say this:

    “But then as I said, it’s up to the Pinoy to put a rocket up the arses of their representatives. Otherwise this will simply be swept under the rug.”

  5. Jonas on June 27th, 2008 9:51 pm

    Agree, Sulficio Lines must be held accountable. But then again, that is not the whole picture and letting out emotion get the best of us is not the wise step to take. What should be done, aside from ensuring culpability on Sulficio’s side, is to also look at the role or possible culpability of the gov’t and it’s officers in the tragedy. Doing such will not only help prevent future disasters but will also eliminate finger-pointing, confusion and chaos.

  6. AdB on June 27th, 2008 10:01 pm

    Jonas,

    Agree with you that “What should be done, aside from ensuring culpability on Sulficio’s side, is to also look at the role or possible culpability of the gov’t and it’s officers in the tragedy”, however, I see Nick’s aim of bringing down Sulpicio lines as a tactical maneuver of sorts that could also bring down those who are culpable govt side.

    The weak link in the chain is Sulpico, start with them and scrutinise the links one by one to sort out the the whole picture .

    Incidenteally, I believe anyone in Nick’s position who has a missing cousin in the disaster will be “emotional” too.

    Emotions is a good driver to get things done! Maybe if Filipinos were less of the bahala na type or less apathetic, Sulpicio Lines that counts 4 major sea disasters under their business belt wouldn’t be allowed to walk away with mass homicide!

  7. Jonas on June 27th, 2008 10:28 pm

    Adb, I agree with. But the angle I’m focusing on is the part wherein Sulficio might be made a escape goat that will allow others to avoid responsibility. Definitely, the Sulficio Lines is a dead duck. There’s no escape for them and they must pinned down hard. On the other hand, emotions, as opposite of what you said of it, is sometimes utilized by others as a means of escape accountability. To blur and confuse and erase the demarcation line. Now that everybody’s sight and rage is directed towards Sulficio Lines I honestly think that the gov’t. has the liability too in the tragedy. As we pound and interrogate and pressure Sulficio Lines we must also do the same with the gov’t. people and agencies that are connected in the tragedy.

  8. Anna on June 27th, 2008 10:45 pm

    “As we pound and interrogate and pressure Sulficio Lines we must also do the same with the gov’t. people and agencies that are connected in the tragedy.”

    Completely agree with you Jonas.

  9. rom on June 28th, 2008 12:02 am

    unfathomable heights, nick? :p we’re mixing things up a bit, aren’t we? hehe. -grammar gestapo

  10. Patricio Mangubat on June 28th, 2008 5:16 am

    I agreed with Benigno and Nick, we should do something not only rallies rather something more creative. I have ideas which I’ll email to you. Not only Sulpicio but also against DOTC, Marina, Coast Guard and those government officials responsible for neglecting the welfare of people.

    Let’s use the hammer this time.

  11. alan on July 2nd, 2008 1:21 pm

    Sulpilcio Lines Achievements

    when you consider that in..
    1987 Dona Paz sank with….4341 souls lost..
    1988 Dona Maralyn …… 250………….
    2008 Princess of the Star…800..
    5361 souls lost due to…..

    Sound like a “Serial Killers” list of achievements..doesnt it ??

  12. Pito Lapon on July 4th, 2008 4:08 pm

    To bring down a Goliath you must now its weakness. Otherwise it will be futile. A key Question nobody has mentioned is, ” Why do WGA-Aboitiz Superferry’s or MV Cebu City or MV Dona Virginia in the past did not Sink.
    Knowing these VERY FINE FACTS will be Key If you are serious in bringing down this Goliath serial killer. I worked in the Shipyard where Sulipico Ships are docked annually. I was there at a management staff level from 1994 to 2000. Yes we know a lot. To avoid Libel just email me pricately, so I will tell you. I work innJapan now as Quality Engr.

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