SEPT 25, 2015

NR # 3968B

Filipino Seafarers Protection bill awaits PNoys signature

ANGKLA Party-list Rep. Jesulito A. Manalo expressed confidence that President
Aquino would anytime soon sign into law the proposed Filipino Seafarers Protection
Act, which seeks to benefit tens of thousands of Filipino seafarers and their families
nationwide.
I am also grateful to all my colleagues in the House of Representatives and our
counterparts in the Senate, particularly Sen. Sonny Angara who sponsored the Senate
version, for supporting the proposed measure, also known as the Anti-Ambulance
Chasing bill, Manalo, principal author of the original HB 5268, stressed.
Rep. Manalo, the lone representative of the maritime sector of the country (Ang
Partido ng mga Pilipinong Marino, Inc.), initiated the measure to protect Filipino
seafarers labor claims arising from their illnesses, accidents, or in worst cases, even death,
against unconscionable legal fees imposed and collected by unscrupulous individuals.
The House passed the measure on December 15, 2014, while the Senate gave its
green light last September 21, 2015 sponsored by Sen. Angara, and now awaits the
Presidents signature.
The bills enactment into law is vital, Manalo said, considering the numerous
alarming stories about deleterious practice of some lawyers and/or other individuals who
charge seafarers unconscionable legal fees from a range of 30% to a soaring 60%.
Seafarers working on-board international fleets are known to be awarded hefty
compensation and benefit packages by reason of the risk to their lives while working in
the high seas. This situation then makes a seafarer an easy target for ambulance chasing,
with legal practitioners having considerable interest in the monetary benefits that one may
claim, and eventually be awarded, Manalo explained.
The proposed statute makes it unlawful for individuals to engage in ambulance
chasing who, through questionable schemes take undue advantage of seafarers in their
legal pursuit for injuries and sickness benefits, the author added.
In order to seriously curb the unreasonable imposition of these fees, the bill
imposes a cap on the total fees that lawyers or persons representing the seafarer may
collect, to an amount not exceeding 10% of the benefit awarded to the seafarer or his
family, Manalo pointed out.
The lawmaker, a lawyer himself, clarified that while the code of Professional
Responsibility of Lawyers prohibits ambulance chasing, no statutory provision exists

which totally, directly, and expressly prohibits this abominable practice in the enforcement
of labor rights.
There is a real sense of urgency to rectify the problem on ambulance chasing.
Thus, to put teeth into the law, parties found in violation of the statute shall be meted a
penalty of a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000, or by imprisonment
of one year but not more than two (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the courts, the
ANGKLA representative said.
Since the measure affects tens of thousands of seafarers and their dependents
nationwide, its national importance should not be overlooked, declared Manalo who is
anticipating the Presidents positive response to the demands of public welfare.
The truth is, the adverse effects of ambulance chasing cascade down to the people
and our economy, the author pointed out.
Sadly, Manalo explained, ambulance chasers go at lengths to push seafarers to file
labor cases against their foreign employers, claiming for benefits even beyond the claims
they are actually entitled to.
This then leads foreign ship owners to no longer re-employ Filipino seafarers,
likewise risking the possible decline, if not loss, of the annual billion-dollar remittances
they bring into the countrys economy, Manalo stressed. (30) dpt