Seafarer groups ask SC to declare Magna Carta as null, void

Seafarer groups on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to declare the Filipino Magna Carta of Seafarers and some of its provisions as void for violating the Constitution.

The petitioners are the Concerned Seafarers of the Philippines (CSP), International Seafarers Action Center (ISAC), and seafarers Joel Almelor, Mark Garcia, and Anecito Lague who were victims of an attack by Houthi pirates.

In their petition, they asked the SC to issue a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction against the implementation of the Magna Carta and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) pending the petition.

They also asked the court to declare Section 59 of the Magna Carta as unconstitutional and void.

Section 59 mandates seafarers post a bond as a condition for the execution of a monetary award pending an appeal or review.

Aside from this, the petitioners also asked the SC to declare the magna carta, including all of its IRR and related issuances, as null and void for having been passed in violation of Article VI, Section 26(2) and 27(1) of the Constitution.

The petitioners further asked the High Court to issue guiding principles or parameters to the powers of the president to issue certification of public calamity or emergency as well as the exercise of powers of Congress and the Bicameral Conference Committee over constitutional requirements on legislative processes.

Respondents in the petition are Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Migrant Workers, among others.

The petition was filed by former Bayan Muna Congressman Neri Colmenares.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the respondents but has yet to receive a response as of posting time. —VAL, GMA integrated News