tinig ng marino may - june 2013 - United Filipino Seafarers United

MAY - JUNE 2013
TINIG NG MARINO
41
44 TINIG NG MARINO
MAY - JUNE 2013
TINIG NG MARINO
MAY - JUNE 2013
47
FAR FROM SINKING
hope is rekindled as paO urges
ca to reverse princess of the Stars
ruling on Sulpicio exec
By Mark Amiel M. Pascual
he Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)
issued a motion for reconsideration
(MR) to the Court of Appeals (CA) last
Thursday aiming to reverse the court
decision that cleared Sulpicio lines
executive Edgar Go from all criminal
liabilities. Supporters and families
of the victims held a protest march
that same day together with Victims
Against Crime and Corruption (VACC)
founding chairman Cdre. (PCGA)
Dante Jimenez, PAO chief Persida
Rueda-Acosta as well as members of
the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS).
The protest march started at
the Manila City Hall where members
of the UFS together with survivors
and victims’ relatives waited for Atty.
Acosta to arrive. Calls for justice
for the victims, indictment of Edgar
Go, and safer marine transportation
waved along the protesters’ placards
as the group marched towards the
Department of Justice (DOJ) and later
on to the appeals court where the MR
was officially filed.
and to stay put despite warnings of
detrimental weather. Included in the list
of Sulpicio Lines executives who have
been charged with criminal cases are
Sulpicio Lines president Enrique Go,
Executive Vice President and Chief
Executive Officer Carlos Go, First
Vice President Dominador Go, and
Senior Vice President and Secretary
Victoriano Go.
T
Justice delayed is justice
denied
PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta leads the way
‘Let us not forget the past’
It was roughly noontime of June
21, 2008 when the passenger ship
MV Princess of the Stars experienced
engine failure in the seas of Sibuyan
Island, Romblon during its regular trip
from Manila to Cebu City. The ship sank
during the height of typhoon “Frank”
claiming the lives of 800 passengers
while 57 managed to survive. Among
the 800 documented passengers,
only 300 bodies were recovered in
the retrieval and search operations
conducted after the said incident.
On June 30, 2008, Sulipicio Lines
filed a case against the Philippine
Atmospheric,
Geophysical
and
Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) accusing the weather
bureau of gross negligence. According
to the shipping company, PAGASA
was to blame for the shipwreck due
to its inaccurate forecasts which led to
the ship being caught in the middle of
the storm.
During the Forum on Maritime
UFS boys joins the fight for justice
Safety During Storm Months held at the
Philippine Coastguards’ Headquarters
and organized by the UFS last July
year, then president of the Justice
for the Victims of M/V Princess of the
Stars Movement, Inc Ernesto Clarin
called for everyone to “not forget the
past,” referring to “one of the worst
sea tragedies that happened on June
21, 2008—the sinking at Sibuyan Sea
of M/V Princess of the Stars”. Clarin
further noted that Sulpicio Lines has
a “recorded history of maritime law
violations.”
The UFS, through the leadership
of Engr. Nelson P. Ramirez, has long
been at the forefront of maritime
safety, and has helped Sulpicio Lines
victims since the very beginning. Last
2011, UFS also organized a fun run in
support of the victims of the Princess
of the Stars.
Engr. Ramirez, founder and
president of UFS, emphasized
important milestones in the country’s
maritime industry since the tragedy.
The first of which is the passage of R.A.
9993 which reinforced the role of PCG
as well as the issuance of E.O. No. 75
which gave Maritime Industry Authority
(Marina) the regulation and control
of IMO’s revised STCW convention.
These recent developments in
maritime policy-making will provide
safer environment for maritime
transportation in the Philippines.
Edgar Go, Vice President for
Administration of Sulpicio Lines was
charged with 135 individual cases (71
in Metro Manila and another 64 from
Cebu) after he failed to order MV
Princess of the Stars to drop anchor
On August of 2008, the Bureau
of Marine Inquiry (BMI) released an
investigative report that implicated
Sulipicio Lines as directly responsible
for the ill-fated ship. The 62-page report
also recommended the suspension
of the shipping company’s license to
operate. Furthermore, the Philippine
Coast Guard (PCG) Boarding Officer
warned the ship’s captain Florencio
Marimon that a storm is heading
their way prior to departure. Marimon
presented an alternate route to the
PCG official which was later approved
and allowed MV Princess of the Stars
to leave the pier.
On Oct. 14, 2008, the Manila
Regional Trial Court Branch 26
scrapped the P4.4 million damage
claim filed by Sulpicio Lines against
PAGASA. Judge Silvino Pampilo,
Jr. said that the court found no
reasonable basis for the claim that
“wrong forecasting” is to blame for the
tragedy.
On June 25, 2009, Go and
Marimon were both formally charged
with cases of reckless imprudence
resulting in multiple homicide before
the Manila RTC. Go filed a petition for
review on March 2010 which was later
junked by DOJ. Motions to withdraw
criminal charges against Marimon
and Go were also rejected by DOJ
including a motion for reconsideration
that was chucked on June 8, 2010.
Nonetheless,
former
acting
Justice Secretary Alberto Agra
supported a recommendation of the
panel to absolve Go among other
Turn to page 57
48 TINIG NG MARINO
MAY - JUNE 2013
Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines, Inc.
Masters and Mates
MMAP HOUSE, 1729 F. Agoncillo Street, Malate, Manila
Association
of the Philippines,
Inc.
Tel:536-6323
* Fax: 536-6307
* Email: info@mastersandmates.net * Web: mastersandmates.net
MMAP HOUSE, 1729 F. Agoncillo Street, Malate, Manila
3 * Fax: 536-6307 * Email: info@mastersandmates.net * Web: mastersandmates.net
O
n behalf of the Masters and Mates Association of the
Philippines Incorporated (MMAP), I would like to extend my
profound congratulations to the officers and members of the Board
of Directors of the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) on the occasion
of the centennial issue of the first globally circulated and most read
maritime newspaper magazine, “Tinig ng Marino”.
Over the years, “Tinig ng Marino” has earned the respect and trust
of the whole maritime community in view of its pro-active stance
and fearless voice in articulating those matters that relate to the
Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines Incorporated
promotion
protectionofofthe
thePhilippines
interest and
general welfare of
like to extend my profound
congratulations
to the
officers
andandAssociation
On behalf
of the Masters
and Mates
Incorporated
Board of Directors of the
United Filipino
Seafarers
(UFS)
onseafarers.
the profound congratulations to the officers and
(MMAP),
I would
like toFilipino
extend
my
centennial issue of the first globally circulated and most read
members of the Board of Directors of the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) on the
occasion of the centennial
of the first globally
readinstitution in
It hasissue
metamorphosed
to be ancirculated
importantand
andmost
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whole ng Marino”.
the maritime
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and protection
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welfare of Filipino seafarers.
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industry in view of its proven role as a catalyst of change, as a useful platform for
On this milestone and historic issue, the Officers and Members
useful information on latest developments in the maritime industry, as a voice of
and historic issue, the Filipino
Officers and
Members
of the
Boardas well as a partner in the national economic
seafarers
and
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ofMMAP
the
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e membership nationwide, share their jubilations and best wishes
development
of the country.
moment in the annals of
the “Tinig ng Marino”.
O A. ASPILLAGA
share their jubilations and best wishes on this significant moment
in the issue,
annalsthe
ofOfficers
the “Tinig
Marino”.
On this milestone and historic
and ng
Members
of the MMAP Board
including its whole membership nationwide, share their jubilations and best wishes
Congratulations!
on this significant moment
in the annals of the “Tinig ng Marino”.
Congratulations!
cAPT. rodoLfo A. AsPILLAgA
President
CAPT. RODOLFO A. ASPILLAGA
President
54 TINIG NG MARINO
MAY - JUNE 2013
The 9th FAME Golf Invitational Tournament
T
he Filipino Association for Mariners’
Employment, Inc. (FAME) held its
9th invitational golf tournament last
April 12, 2013 at the Orchard Golf and
Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
After a half-day of supreme
golf action the following emerged as
winners:
Capt. Banny Briones topped
the Low Gross while Mr. Jon Judan
topped the Low Net and the Longest
Drive. Most Accurate Drive went to Mr.
Mel Rosario while Mr. Noli Mendoza
was deemed Most Promising Player.
For Class A, Capt. Tsutomu
Harada came in first followed by Mr.
Honorio Casalme and C/E Guilbert
Llamado
Mr. Yutaka Kikuchi came in first
for Class B, followed by C/E Efren L.
Robles and Capt. Minoru Okada.
Class C champ was Mr. Ericson
Marquez, followed by C/E Rogelio
B.Sobremonte and Mr. Geronimo F.
Caidic
For the women’s division, Ms. Ma.
Cristina A. Basilio topped the charts
followed by Ms. Connie Mamaril and
Ms. Carmen Rebusi.
Mr. Richard Salcedo topped
the Sponsors and Guests Division
followed by Mr. Jonathan Diokno and
Mr. Dalmacio D. Martin.
For the FAME Ryder Cup,
the Philippine team led by Mr. Jon
Judan, Capt. Banny Briones and Mr.
Jay Valdez topped followed by the
Japanese Team with Capt. Tsutomu
Harada, Capt. Kiyoshi Oikawa and
Capt. Tetsuya Suzuki. The European
Team came in third with Mr. Kjell
Hjartnes, Mr. Rene Kruidenier and Mr.
Geir Wingsternes.
Mr. Jon Judan got the most
number of birdies while Mr. Jay
Valdez got the most number
of pars. Mr. Jonathan M.
Palma, Mr. Richard Salcedo
and Mr. Jon Judan got the 2 on
2 putts
FAME also honored this year’s
Hall of FAMErs, individuals who have
participated for four consecutive years:
Mr. Alex S. Estabillo, Mr. Ernesto
Galang, Mr. Dever C. Besana, Ms.
Carmen Rebusi, Mr. Renato Mañago,
Mr. Ruben Regalado, Mr. Honorio
Casalme, Capt. Amado Castro, Jr.,
C/E Abiel S. Bugas.
The 9th FAME tournament
was sponsored by Capt. Kiyoshi
Oikawa, Mr. Honorio Casalme,
Banco De Oro Unibank, Inc., Smart
Communications, Inc., PhilippineJapan Manning Consultative Council,
Inc. (PJMCC), Toyota Otis, Inc., Abosta
Shipmanagement Corp., Associated
Marine Officers & Seamen’s Union
of the Phils. (AMOSUP), Del
Rosario Pandiphil, Inc., Magsaysay
Cooperative
(MAGCOOP),NYKFil Ship Management, Inc., Parola
Maritime Agency/Eagle Star Crew
Management
Corp., All
Japan
Seamen’s Union Manila Welfare Office
(Phil.) Corp. (AJSU), AVOcampo/
ATR Kimeng Insurance Broker/
Cocolife, Baguio Country Club, C.F.
Sharp Crew Management, Inc.,Cargo
Safeway, Inc., Intermodal Shipping,
Inc.International Seamen’s Mutual
Labor Association (ISLA), Mariners’
& Allied Transport Employees Union
(MATEU), Maritime Academy of Asia
and the Pacific (MAAP), Multinational
Maritime Inc./MMSPHIL Maritime
Services Inc., OSM Maritime Services,
Inc.,Philippine Association of Manning
Agencies & Ship Managers, Inc.
(PAMAS),
International
Maritime
Association
of
the
Philippines
(INTERMAP),Philippine
Marine
Travel Agents Association (PMTAA),
Philippine Seafarers Union (PSU)ITF, Super Care Medical Services
Inc.,Virjen Shipping Corporation and
Western Shipping Southeast Asia, Inc.
The tournament wouldn’t have
been a success without the Special
Projects and Events Committee
headed by Mr. Marlon R. Roño - the
Committee Chairman, Engr. Sammuel
T. Lim – Co-Chairman, Capt. Banny
B. Briones – Golf Committee
Chairman, Mr. Alfredo T. Mendoza
– Golf Committee Co-Chairman, Mr.
Simon Heo and other members of the
Committee, Mr. Jonathan M. Palma
and the whole FAME Officers and
Board of Directors.
After the event’s success, FAME
is now gearing up for the next year’s
tournament marking its 40th year of
maritime golf fun.
TINIG NG MARINO
MAY - JUNE 2013
hope is...
From page 47
Sulpicio
executives
from
any form of criminal liability
citing that “it is clear that
the petitioner did not have
the authority to clear the
departure of the vessel and
he did not participate in the
decision concerning said
departure. There is therefore
no legal or factual basis for his
indictment.”
The appeals court further
stated that “there is no shred
of evidence from which such
power to control or authority to
decide and direct can be drawn
or inferred. What the evidence
shows is that petitioner’s duty
was to supervise personnel
who perform liaison work
with government agencies
for compliance with statutory
permits,
certificates
and
franchises.”
Meanwhile, members of
the Justice for the Princess
of the Stars Movement, Inc.
(JPSMI)
expressed
their
disappointment
over
the
court ruling to dismiss cases
against Edgar Co and other
Sulpicio executives. Nova
Fajardo, whose late husband
(Randy Fajardo) was member
of the ship’s crew, says that
they have been waiting for
justice to be served for five
years and frowns upon the
fact that the country’s justice
system takes too long to
decide on the Princess of
the Stars case. Susan Dispo,
a shipwreck survivor, called
on to the public for help in
demanding justice officials to
give the group (JPSMI) what
they have been waiting for five
years—justice.
gross negligence
Go was absolved by the
appeals court from charges of
reckless imprudence resulting
in multiple homicide, physical
injuries and damage to property
before the Manila City Trial
Court Branch 5. The said
ruling vilified the order issued
by the Department of Justice
(DOJ) blaming Go for the 2008
shipwreck fiasco.
The 26-page MR reiterated
how Go is directly responsible
for the 2008 incident. The MR
further upholds the 2008 report
filed by BMI that called for the
suspension of Sulpicio Lines’
license to operate after finding
evidence that MV Princess of the
Stars was allowed to sail its route
despite the raging typhoon.
Acosta cited the Philippine
Coast Guard Circular stating
that the ship owner holds
responsibility in discouraging
“any
vessel’s
movement
except for sheltering purposes
especially while typhoon signals
are hoisted or expected within
the area of origin, the route and
the destination.”
Acosta further adds that
Go’s failure to suspend the trip
“is a clear gross negligence
tantamount to absence of care
resulting in loss of lives and
properties of the riding public
committed.”
Moreover,
the
appeal
made it clear that Go himself
explained that vessel operations
are part of his responsibility as
vice president for administration
services.
Acosta’s
appeal
implies that Go failed to issue a
directive to give MV Princess of
the Stars an alternate route to
avoid contact with the typhoon.
The said petition also highlights
knowledge that Go knew well
that the ship was on a crash
collision trip against typhoon
“Frank” and that letting the ship
go would imperil the lives of
hundreds of passengers.
This is not the first time that
Sulpicio Lines faced indictment
over maritime disaster. Looking
57
at its track records, Sulpicio
Lines has been implicated to
the sinking of MV Dona Paz in
1987, MV Dona Marilyn in 1988,
and MV Princess of the Orient in
1998.
The recent efforts of PAO
to fight for the case rekindled
the hopes of supporters and
relatives whose loved ones died
in the tragic incident. Despite the
dubious record of Sulpicio Lines
executives for evading the law,
relatives of the tragedy’s victims
continue to hope for the best and
pray that justice will be served
soon.
Topic: Amazing cases by “Ambulance Chasers” with C/E Isagani Valmonte Jr.
of Bridge Marine Corp.
Topic: 193rd Anniversary of Philippine
Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA)
with guests Capt. Jomer Pascua and
Engr. Rose Rabo Mantilla.
Topic: The10 dollar men and women
of PMMA with guests Capt. Jomer
Pascua and Edward Rommel Brioso.
en influential in the the many changes
’s maritime industry. The evidence can
owsing the UFS website.
e in cutthroat competition by bringing
own and employing sexy marketing
knew they get their money’s worth.
to compare Tinig ng Marino to other
ust as if one were comparing a choice
nd a Kia Pride.
Name:
Address:
Tel. No.:
E-mail:
Congratulations to tinig ng MarinO
th issue
on its
TINIG NG MARINO
MAY - JUNE 2013
100
61
62 TINIG NG MARINO
With MARINA Admin. Nick Conti and
Gov. Ben Chiongbian, owner of West Bay
College, during the 20th anniversary of
Magsaqysay Institute of Shipping at Dasmariñas, Cavite.
MAY - JUNE 2013
With Fernando Manfredo, Maritime Qualifica- With Cong. Teddy Casiño and C/Engr. Procis Aquino during the oathtions Evaluator of the Republic of Panama and taking of Marine Engineers at the Manila Hotel on March 20, 2013.
Capt. Rodolfo Aspillaga, president of MMAP
UFS volunteer cadets throw their support to the victims and families of the M/V Princess of the Stars when they filed their Motion
for Reconsideration in the Court of Appeals
With Capt. Rey Casareo of Cargo Safeway Inc., and Dianne Castillo in Usapang Marino at SM
Manila Seafarers’ Center.
PMMA Batch 97 with their adopted bunkmate Cong. Emmeline Aglipay of DIWA
Partylist. May congressman na sila, may muse pa. Before, Rose was the only
rose among the macho guys being the first woman cadet of PMMA. Ngayon
dalawa na silang babae sa batch 97. Kahit sa pagandahan na lang ng muse,
panalo na ang batch 97. Agree ba kayo mga bunkmate? Remember, Cong. Em
Aglipay filed the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers. Just help me do the lobbying
in the next congress so that we will have a charter of our own.
NPR with bunkmates Capt. Rey Casareo, president of Cargo Safeway Inc., and
Capt. Danny Venida, the founding president of PMMA Alumni Association, during the PMMA Alumni Homecoming
C/M Albert Soriano
64 TINIG NG MARINO
MAY - JUNE 2013