The Association of Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) expressed their opposition to the practice of ambulance chasing.
AMOSUP described ambulance chasing as an unethical legal practice that detrimentally drains Filipino seafarers and overseas Filipino workers of their hard-earned resources.
Several shipowners, key executives from prominent local manning agencies and AMOSUP officials recently paid a courtesy call to House Speaker Martin Romualdez to voice support for the deliberation of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers bill at the bicameral conference committee.
Joining them in the courtesy call are members of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs led by Rep. Ron Salo as chair and Rep. Christian Tell Yap as vice chair.
AMOSUP is pushing for the eradication of ambulance chasing in the Magna Carta bill.
Certain labor groups, including the National Association of Trade Unions and the Association of Marine Officers and Ratings or AMOR Seaman, however, expressed opposition to the escrow provision. There were also media releases indicating dissent from the Federation of Free Workers (FFW).
AMOSUP said that in recent policy discussions, claimant lawyers became more prominent than seafarer unions and employers in vigorously challenging key provisions in the Magna Carta.
“Addressing the menace of ambulance chasing, which has occasionally strained relations within the local maritime sector, emphasizes the urgency of protective measures benefiting both Filipino seafarers and foreign workers,” it said in a statement.
“This critical issue underscores the pressing need for a comprehensive legal framework that safeguards the interests of seafarers and employers, ensuring a fair and ethical maritime industry for all stakeholders,” the association said.