00:00 This is the scene in Menjola, Manila this morning.
00:04 Some members of the Seafarers Organization protested.
00:08 They admitted that their group is not that large,
00:11 and they don't have a permit to rally.
00:13 That's why they were immediately stopped by the police.
00:16 However, they called on the government to remove the Provisional Execution Bond
00:23 from the Magna Carta for Seafarers.
00:26 They said that the execution bond is like a trust fund,
00:29 and that the crew members will be forced to pay money
00:33 if there is an accident or accident in their work and a case is going to be filed.
00:39 They complained that they will not receive their entire compensation
00:44 if there is an accident in their work.
00:46 That's why the group leaders insisted...
00:49 This is a disease and it's hard for the seafarers.
00:52 If we have an accident, an injury or death,
00:58 we will go home and file a complaint to get our claims.
01:02 If the Magna Carta has a provision of the execution bond,
01:06 we will be the ones to deposit the cash bond.
01:10 We think that this kind of situation is very unfair and unconstitutional
01:17 because it's based on the Magna Carta
01:19 and it should be favorable to our workers, the seafarers.
01:25 They insisted that there was no consultation before the Magna Carta was given.
01:31 They are consulting businesses,
01:33 so it's not favorable to us.
01:37 Even though we are the ones who are raising money in the Philippines,
01:41 we are part of the economy,
01:43 and they are the ones who will replace us.
01:45 The Philippines is the primary source of maritime manpower.
01:49 25% of the seafarers in the world come from the Philippines.
01:53 According to the government,
01:55 the remittances to the country amounted to more than 6.7 billion dollars in 2022.
02:01 President Bongbong Marcos' urgent notification was this
02:06 that the seafarers' needs are far-reaching
02:09 and they should continue to comply with international maritime standards.
02:13 In the protest of the groups,
02:15 they were shouting the letter that they will submit to President Marcos' office.
02:20 They also have a petition to be released
02:23 along with their continued request to study the provision
02:28 before signing the Magna Carta.
02:31 They hope that their call will be heard
02:34 because their livelihood is at stake here.
02:38 We are calling President Bongbong Marcos to remove this execution ban
02:42 because he will kill the seafarers and future seafarers.
02:47 We should be heard and recognized as modern heroes of our country.
02:54 EJ Gomez, CNN Philippines.
