Mass burial, cremation eyed for 200 MV Princess of the Stars victims

Remains of the more than 200 “unclaimed" victims the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy are scheduled for mass burial or cremation.

Radio dzBB's Cebu affiliate reported this was the decision reached by the National Bureau of Investigation, the International Police Organization and Cebu City officials.

The NBI disaster identification unit, which worked with an Interpol team to identify remains recovered from the capsized vessel, said the bodies had been at the Cebu port for so long.

Acting Cebu City mayor Michael Rama agreed with the decision after meeting with representatives of the NBI and Interpol, the report said.

On the other hand, they stressed Sulpicio Lines Inc., owner of the ill-fated vessel, should shoulder the expenses in the mass burial or cremation.

For their part, members of the NBI-Interpol identification team will turn over to the local government the documents and other evidence used to identify the bodies.

The MV Princess of the Stars capsized off Romblon province at the height of Typhoon Frank on June 21 last year. Plans are still being made to remove the shipwreck from the area.