Sulpicio Lines must brought to court so it may be held accountable for the tragedy that killed hundreds of passengers of MV Princess of the Stars.

First, the government prosecutors should immediately file appropriate charges based on President Arroyo’s appraisal that the company erred in letting the ship leave Manila for Cebu. The results of the Board of Marine Inquiry investigation may buttress the legal cases on Sulpicio Lines’ many and perhaps repeated violations of laws.

Second and more important, Sulpicio Lines has been remiss even in handling the situation in the aftermath of the disaster. Its efforts are extremely slow and callous to the families of those affected. Let me explain:

1. Until yesterday, Sulpicio Lines was publishing ads selling tickets for all its vessels — INCLUDING THE MV PRINCESS OF THE STARS. Ain’t this insulting and insensitive? The Manila Bulletin must also explain why it let such an ad see print.

2. Sulpicio Lines has not issued any form of apology and explanation through paid advertisements in the newspapers or in broadcast stations. Such advertisement could also contain information on how it wishes to assist survivors and relatives of the missing and of those who perished.

3. The company is taking it really slowly to fetch and bring back the survivors who were found in various places in Luzon and the Visayas.

4. The company is also so insensitive as to make the relatives wait for the bodies of their dead. There is no refrigerated temporary crypts or sufficient amount of apog/formaline being provided the authorities in Romblon and other areas where bodies are also found. Can’t they immediately send the retrieved bodies to Cebu or Manila for swift identification by experts and/or their families? The longers the bodies are kept in Romblon, the quicker they rot and the longer their families are made to wait. From the scientific point of view, the prolonged wait makes identification more difficult.

5. The company has also not made any suggestions on how it can help to quickly retrieve the other bodies trapped inside MV Princess of the Stars.

The victims should make sure that Sulpicio Lines will be punished for all these and other liabilities. The government must make sure there is no impunity, that Sulpicio Lines is made to account for its accountabilities to their passengers and the law. If and when the victims so decide to band together to file a class-action suit, the government must help them. The agencies of government that issued permits and franchises to Sulpicio Lines must also use their power to teach the company a lesson in corporate responsibilities under the laws.

Sulpicio Lines must be dealt with accordingly for operating floating coffins, and the government must make amends for allowing to do so for the longest time.

We the people should join victims in making sure justice prevails and that those who indirectly and directly caused this tragedy are made to pay.