Relatives of the victims of the MV Princess of the Stars, which capsized off Romblon in June last year, have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to compel government agents to release the identities of some of those who perished in the sea tragedy.
In their nine-page petition, the complainants asked Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to subpoena the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) so that the results of the DNA tests could be released.
A panel of prosecutors led by Senior State Prosecutor Ma. Emilia Victorio had earlier denied a motion to compel the NBI to release the DNA test results.
The complainants were accompanied by Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta when they filed the petition at the DOJ office in Manila Thursday.
“Why a piecemeal decision? How about the other relatives of those who perished in the tragedy? Other relatives cannot come to Manila since they live in far-flung provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao. This is a crime that has been committed nationwide,” Acosta said.
Acosta said the panel erred when it limited the extent of the subpoena that they requested from the NBI to only 34 victims. The panel said only 34 relatives are entitled for the results since they were the ones who have formally filed a complaint with the DOJ.
Being sought to be subpoenaed were NBI Director Nestor Mantaring, NBI medico-legal officer Dr. Antonio M. Bautista, and other pertinent documents relating to the identification of the victims.
“The documents sought to be produced are evidence material to the case. If not corrected, this will work injustice to all the victims who remain missing or unidentified,” Acosta said.
MV Princess of the Stars, owned by Sulpicio Lines Inc., had more than 800 crewmembers and passengers when it capsized off Sibuyan island in Romblon on June 21, 2008 at the height of typhoon “Frank.”
Acosta said that after determining the actual number of the dead victims, the prosecution and the court will be guided in prosecuting and imposing the appropriate penalty. She likewise asked that the cadavers be preserved for evidentiary purposes.
Named respondents in the case were Sulpicio president Enrique Go; executive vice-president and chief executive officer Carlos Go; senior vice president and secretary, Victoriano Go; first vice presidents Dominador and Edgar Go. Ship captain Florencio Marimon was likewise impleaded in the suit but his name was later dropped following reports that he also perished in the tragedy.
by GMANews.TV
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