Cordova mayor to hale liners, DENR to court

CORDOVA Mayor Adelino Sitoy will file charges on August 14 against the two shipping companies involved in the sea accident off Lawis Ledge if they won’t pay compensation for the environmental damage before that day.

In August 16 last year, the passenger ferry MV St Thomas Aquinas collided with the cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete, killing 137 people.

Sitoy said he plans to file the civil complaint for damages on August 14 at the Regional Trial Court in Mandaue City.

“I guess the two companies won’t really make a move unless I press charges against them,” said Sitoy.

He has been asking for P127 million from 2Go Group Inc. and Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp.

(PSACC) to answer for damage to mangroves and other marine resources in Cordova arising from the oil spill caused by the ship collision.

Aside from the shipping firms, Sitoy may also press charges against government agencies.
“You just wait. We have many defendants in this case,” he said.

He expressed disappointment over what he said was the lukewarm response of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR-7) in the past months.

“They only gave us an estimate of the mangrove plantation damage but that was it. After that, they weren’t doing anything anymore,” he said.

“They were sleeping. That’s why I’m looking for a way to wake them up.”

DENR-7 spokesman Eddie Llamedo said the agency has responded to the plight of Cordova.

In a meeting Monday, DENR-7 Regional Director Isabelo Montejo ordered a reassessment of the mangroves.

The DENR supports Sitoy’s move of pressing charges against the shipping firms.

“We will provide technical support and whatever necessary that we can extend to him,” said Llamedo.