In this day and age, there are still some Good Samaritans.
The unlikely heroes of the Filipino fishermen whose boat was capsized by a Chinese vessel and were allegedly abandoned at sea were a bunch of Vietnamese. President Rodrigo Duterte thanked the Vietnamese fishermen who came to the rescue of the Filipino fishermen after they were abandoned near the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) in the West Philippine Sea.
The rescue made by the Vietnamese is a classic example of the “Good Samaritan vessel” doctrine which is the legal and moral obligation to render assistance at sea. This maritime rescue doctrine encourages seafarers to go to the aid of life and property in distress. It is a moral obligation for one to save another person out of compassion, instinct or both. The obligation is legal when it is required by laws or statutes such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Even in our jurisdiction, there is a law that penalizes one who refuses to give aid to a person or persons in distress. The Revised Penal Code (Article 275) imposes the penalty of arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6 months) upon (a) any one who shall fail to render assistance to any person whom he shall find in an uninhabited place wounded or in danger of dying, when he can render such assistance without detriment to himself, unless such omission shall constitute a more serious offense and (b) anyone who shall fail to help or render assistance to another whom he has accidentally wounded or injured.
President Duterte thanked the captain and crew of the “Good Samaritan” Vietnamese fishing vessel saying this act of kindness and compassion will always be remembered by the Philippines and its people.
As to the Chinese vessel, this condemnable act must be tackled at the proper forum and not just be forgotten no matter how amiable the relations are between the Philippine and China.
