![]() “These shipping companies always emerged virtually unpunished or if punished, they were simply given a slap on the wrist. Teodosio lamented that aside from the delay in the court ruling and the much lower amount granted to his clients, government inaction had contributed to the “impunity” of shipping companies found liable in maritime disasters. We are willing to pay the amount stated in the court decision as we do not want this case hanging and want to settle this once and for all,” said the company’s lawyer, Dexter Viñan.īut Viñan said the firm was opposing the appeal of the complainants for a higher amount, describing their original demand of P320 million as “grossly excessive.” “We exerted all efforts and extraordinary diligence to save the passengers. Trans-Asia said it would abide by the court decision and pay the complainants, but insisted that it was not liable for the sinking of the vessel, blaming instead the strong winds and big waves. “Is that the value of a person’s life now?” she said. She lamented that the families of the fatalities received only from P188,000 to P200,000. “After 13 years and our unforgettable ordeal, we get P45,000?” Ledesma asked. The Iloilo complainants, through their legal counsel Hector Teodosio, appealed the Iloilo RTC ruling on June 18. 20, 2011, the Bogo, Cebu Regional Trial Court Branch 61 dismissed a charge of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and physical injuries against ship captain Porfirio Labagday and chief mate Saturnino Flores. ![]() The case is still pending in the Court of Appeals. ![]() Three years earlier, or in March 2010, Judge Ray Alan Drilon of the Bacolod RTC ordered Trans-Asia to pay damages amounting to P4.8 million to relatives of siblings Jumille Marie and Jesselle Nepacena, and Suzette Tio-who died in the sinking. Maputol said in her 36-page decision that the shipping line “failed to prove observance of extraordinary diligence” in ensuring the safety of the passengers. Judge Loida Diestro-Maputol ordered Trans-Asia to pay 13 survivors, including Ledesma, P45,000 each in damages and lawyer’s fees, and the families of Dyna dela Cruz, Maria Nenel Montecastro, Paul Vicent Sy and Nancy Guarnes P188,000 to P215,000 in death indemnification, damages and litigation costs. On June 6 this year, or more than 13 years after the sinking, the Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 28 issued a decision granting P1.38 million to 17 complainants. On April 11, 2000, Ledesma and 68 other complainants, including families of four fatalities, filed a civil case seeking P380 million in damages against the Cebu-based Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc.
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