Group: Deployment ban to Aden 'band-aid' solution

MANILA, Philippines - Branding it as a "band-aid" solution, a seafarers’ group rejected Monday the government’s 'deployment ban' to fleets sailing the Gulf of Aden to prevent Filipino seafarers from falling victim to pirates. The International Seafarers’ Action Center (ISAC) Philippines Foundation similarly rejected a proposed deployment of naval liaison officers to rescue the remaining seafarers held by pirates. "Such pronouncements by the Palace’s big-wigs, namely Remonde and [Executive Secretary] Eduardo Ermita, only expose the State’s inability to come up with viable policy, to show that it really cares for Filipino seafarers," said ISAC secretary general and maritime labor lawyer Joseph Tolang Entero, in an article on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines website. Earlier, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Arroyo has ordered the Department of National Defense (DND) to deploy naval liaison officers to work closely with the US Naval fleet in rescuing Filipino seamen held by Somali pirates. Remonde also said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has also issued a ban to commercial ships against the travel to Gulf of Aden, or within 200 nautical miles (300 km) from Somalia. This is a part of the "stepping up" efforts by the government for the release of 100 seamen still being held hostage by the Somali pirates while working closely with the manning agencies and the ship-owners who are in direct contact with the pirates, he said. But Entero said it is public knowledge that a ban only abets illegal recruitment, just like what happened in the deployment ban in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon during the heat of wars there. "Besides, calling for a ban is just an empty rhetoric as Mr. Remonde or Mr. Ermita has not even explained how the ban will work," he said. He also said the deployment of naval liaison officers to help the US Naval Force in rescuing the 100 Filipino seafarers in captivity will only endanger the lives of the seamen. "Militaristic solutions won’t solve the problem. It will only aggravate the volatile situation. We all know that the militants threaten to kill American sailors, if they will get any as hostage, as their revenge to what happened in the rescue of Maerks Alabama Capt. Richard Phillips," he said. "Mr. Remonde and Mr. Ermita must first understand the reality and join the clamor of the families of the Filipino seafarers-captives to ensure that they are treated well, their benefits are not withheld by their shipowner employers, and that they are speedily released. Surely, these objectives can be more advocated by diplomats and human rights officers that have adequate skills on handling this kind of situation. We think, a naval officer does not posses such capacity," he added. [See: 'Deployment ban to Gulf of Aden risky, ridiculous'] Entero pushed for the Undersecretary for Overseas Workers’ Affairs to be sent as the official delegate of the Philippines before the United Nations (UN), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Organization on Migration (IOM) and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) to ask their help in the speedy release and repatriation of the seamen hostage. ISAC also urged government to come out from their comfort zones, unleash the full force of the law, and act proactively in solving the problem instead of issuing advisories and just coordinating with manning agencies and shipowners. “Republic Act 8042 clearly provides procedures and funds to deal with this kind of crisis besetting our bagong bayanis. These seafarers are clearly Overseas Filipinos in Distress as defined under Section 2 of the Omnibus Rules Implementing R.A. 8042. As such, they are entitled to services under Section 15 (Emergency Repatriation of Workers) and Sections 24 and 25 (Legal Assistance), of the Omnibus rules and to access the funds provider thereof, amounting to almost P200 million," he said. He added that while Philippine Overseas Employment Administration rules clearly put primary responsibility on the foreign principals and make manning agencies responsible faithful compliance by their foreign principals of all obligation to their workers, “it is POEA’s responsibility to enforce these rules." “However, since the spate of the ship abduction in Somalian waters, the POEA has not acted upon the neglect of shipowners and manning agencies with regards to the ship abduction issue. ISAC believes, it is time for our lawmakers to step up and pass an emergency legislation to enable the government to bring our bagong bayanis home," Entero added. - GMANews.TV