News Roundup 31 May 2023
May 31, 2023 • 4 min Read
European envoys concerned at removal of escrow provision in seafarer welfare bill | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — European ambassadors are calling on the Philippine government to provide the necessary legal framework to protect maritime industry employers and seafarers from predatory lawyers, whom industry leaders say could drive away jobs.
“It is essential that our policies evolve with the changing times and adapt to make Filipino seafarers more appealing to the international market,” German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel said in a statement.
The bill for the Magna Carta of Seafarers at the House of Representatives includes an escrow provision, which states that the money won by seafarers in a labor dispute would not be released to them in full unless all legal remedies up to the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court are exhausted. Monetary awards in a labor dispute will first be deposited in an escrow or a third party.
Concerns began after senators last week scrapped the provision in its version of the Magna Carta for Seafarers.
“We are a seafaring nation that highly values the contribution of Filipino seafarers on our fleet but I am expressing the concern of our ship owners that a legislative framework without an escrow facility will pave the way for Ambulance Chasing to become endemic,” Ambassador of the Netherlands Marielle Geraedts said.
The escrow provision is meant to protect workers and employers from “ambulance chasing” — when lawyers convince those who get work-related injuries to file cases against their employers and seek high damages, most of which up in lawyer’s pockets.
Full Story at: European envoys concerned at removal of escrow provision in seafarer welfare bill | Philstar.com
Arraignment of Degamo suspects deferred | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court has deferred the arraignment of the 11 suspects in the brazen assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo where nine others were killed and more than a dozen were hurt.
News5 reported that a motion to quash, citing illegal arrest, has been filed.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, in a streamed press conference on Wednesday afternoon, declined to comment on the motion filed.
Referring to the allegation of illegal arrest, Remulla however said that “everything is presumed to have happened regularly,” adding that it would be up to the court to appreciate arguments.
Full Story at: Arraignment of Degamo suspects deferred | Philstar.com
10 suspects in Degamo’s slay withdraw testimony vs Teves | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines–Five more suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Roel Degamo and nine others have taken back their testimonies, their lawyers confirmed Wednesday.
The recantations were included in the separate motions filed by the suspects before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51.
Earlier, five suspects have already recanted their testimonies, namely Jhudiel Rivero, Dahniel Lora, Romel Pattaguan, Rogelio Antipolo Jr., and Joven Javier.
The latest set of suspects to recant are Winrich Esturis, Eulogio Gonyon Jr., John Loui Gonyon, Joric Labrador, and Benjie Rodriguez.
They denied involvement in the crime, saying they were tortured by the police to admit to the killing.
“They were tortured, coerced. They were made to own up to admit to the killing,” Atty. Danny Villanueva told reporters.
Full Story at: 10 suspects in Degamo’s slay withdraw testimony vs Teves | Inquirer News
‘Grave concerns’ raised over ‘Maharlika’ passage | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Opposition senators on Tuesday raised “grave concerns” over the impending passage of the law creating the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), alleging that this venture was not driven by the need to pump-prime the economy but by the interest of “crony capitalists.”
In his turno en contra speech, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III detailed 12 grounds on why they should not approve Senate Bill No. 2020 that seeks to put up the MIF, flagging the measure for constitutional and procedural issues.
Pimentel wondered who broached the idea of creating the MIF, as it was never mentioned by then-presidential candidate and now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the campaign and even in his first State of the Nation Address.
“Where did this idea come from? Is it possible that we are doing this as a favor to a businessman who has access to the ears of the powers that be, whose business or bottom line has been hit by the downturn in the world economy and thus would need a new client?” the senator asked.
The MIF was also not cited in the Marcos administration’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework, or the initial list of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac), according to Pimentel.
“We will hopefully know the identity of this big-time influencer in due time,” Pimentel added.
Full Story at: ‘Grave concerns’ raised over ‘Maharlika’ passage | Inquirer News
