RELATIVES of victims of the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy are seeking a compromise agreement with the country’s shipping regulator to prevent the vessel owner, Sulpicio Lines Inc., from again carrying passengers.

Percida Rueda-Acosta, the legal counsel of the victims, said the relatives are open to an agreement and to drop cases filed against Sulpicio if Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) will cancel its franchise to carry passengers.

“This is a win-win situation for both parties. Sulpicio will continue to operate while giving the victims and their relatives assurance that another accident involving passengers onboard any of the ships of Sulpicio will not happen again,” Acosta, who is head of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), said.

“However, if Sulpicio would insist to operate its passage business, then we will fight them anywhere,” Acosta said.

In the last three weeks, PAO has filed a slew of cases against Sulpicio in the Regional Trial Court in Manila and the Department of Justice.

Marina, on the other hand, has shelved a decision on the matter and decided to continue its hearing on the cancellation of Sulpicio’s franchise.

According to Marina deputy administrator Primo Rivera, a deal with the victims is a tricky issue since Sulpicio holds a single Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC)—its franchise for carrying cargo and passengers.

Such franchise cannot be revoked in its entirety or be retained by Sulpicio.

“There’s no such thing as ‘partial revocation,’” Rivera said.

Earlier this month, PAO and Princess survivors and relatives of victims stormed the hearing on cancellation and filed their own petition to revoke the shipping firm’s CPC.

Sulpicio’s legal counsel has blocked the move, arguing that it was a publicity stunt. Marina, on the other hand, is still deciding on whether it will append the PAO petition to the ongoing hearing, or file a separate case.

Princes of the Stars sunk off Sibuyan Island in Iloilo province at the height of typhoon Frank on June 21.  The vessel was carrying more than 800 passengers, crewmembers and sea marshals.

At the moment, bodies and cargos remain inside the capsized ship and salvage firms are planning the retrieval operations.

Marina allowed Sulpicio to resume freight operations, but not its passenger business, until end of the year.

Kin of victims seek deal on Sulpicio license

RELATIVES of victims of the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy are seeking a compromise agreement with the country’s shipping regulator to prevent the vessel owner, Sulpicio Lines Inc., from again carrying passengers.

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