Sulpicio Lines, operator of the Philippines ferry Princess of the Stars, appeared last week to be clutching at straws in the wind when explaining why the ro-pax sailed, dooming more than 700 people aboard. Apart from attributing the typhoon disaster to an "act of God" Sulpicio said the weather bureau had been late in reporting a shift of course by Typhoon Fengshen. That, the operator claimed, was the main cause of the disaster. Sulpicio's lawyers cited testimonies of officials before the Board of Marine Inquiry in filing a civil damage suit against the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
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