Creation of admiralty court sought
ANGKLA Party- list Rep. Jesulito Manalo has announced plans to set up an admiralty tribunal that would solve maritime or shipping disputes in the Philippines after convincing Supreme Court justices to create it.
“I told them that maritime is an international endeavor. Maritime law covers all facets of law, from convention [ and] treaties to trade, insurance, immigration [ and] labor. After [ our] discussion, all the justices said, ‘ Congressman, submit your paper and I’ll set up your pilot… admiralty court,’” Manalo said.
According to him, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam all have admiralty courts, while the Philippines is yet to have one.
“If ever we set up an admiralty court, let it be the court that rules on the rule of law. Let it be the court that rules on knowledge, skills and science, because… shipping can be ruled by science. Why? Because if it’s not formulated well, the ship will sink,” Manalo explained.
“Shipping is [also] based on physics. It’s based on engineering, on the buoyancy and on the power of the engine. It’s also based on the insurance. It can be calculated. But everything involves seafaring—the human being that runs the vessel,” he said.
Starting next month, the lawmaker will form a small group that will work on the plans for the court. To do so, they must put the education of the admiralty court before the Judicial Academy. Then, invite experts to educate lawyers who will be trained
to become good judges.
Angkla also sought for a governmentappointed ambassador to the International Maritime Organization ( IMO) and promised to put funding for his or her office.
“It’s now time to put people in the IMO. We cannot close our eyes that we don’t have a special ambassador there, because we lack [the] budget in the amount of P87 million,” Manalo said.
He also said the maritime industry’s contribution to the economy amounted to billions of dollars, yet the government could not provide that amount.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA) must put up a budget and put
an ambassador there, so we can learn what’s happening in the international global community and get the knowledge and information in order for us to drive the country to what it should be, in terms of maritime,” he said.
“If other lawmakers can put an insertion [ in] any project, I can also put an insertion of P87 million [ in order to have] the first Filipino ambassador to the IMO by next year,” he added.
The party- list is seeking a third term in Congress and has filed its certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, Manila on October 12.