Tolentino bats for Good Samaritan law at sea
Credit to Author: JAVIER J. ISMAEL| Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2019 17:25:02 +0000
SEN. Francis Tolentino has filed a bill seeking to impose stiff penalties on those who fail to give assistance to persons in distress at sea.
Tolentino said Senate Bill (SB) 209, or the “Good Samaritan At Sea Law,” would ensure that those guilty of jeopardizing the lives of persons at sea by refusing to help would be punished.
The senator’s call came amid an apology issued by the Chinese Fishing Association that its trawler was responsible for sinking FB Gem-Ver 1 and abandoning its crew in open water last June.
Under the proposed bill, the responding ship’s captain should inform the vessel in need that they are on their way once they receive a distress call.
Vessels unable to respond to a distress alert due to certain circumstances must enter in its logbook the reason for failing to assist and inform the authorities, such as the Philippine Coast Guard, of the situation.
Tolentino said violators would face a fine of not less than P5 million, but not more than P10 million. Those who will be held liable are the vessel’s captain, crew and passengers.
“If the violator is the cause or part of the ship that caused the distress at sea, an additional penalty of imprisonment of not less than one year and one day, but not more than two years shall be imposed on them,” he said.
He added that a fine not less than P10 million, but not more than P20 million would be imposed. For foreigners, they will not be deported without the payment of the imposed judicial or administrative fines and service of sentence, if applicable.