The 46thannual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was held in Brunei last week. ASEAN was founded in 1967, as a safeguard against communism in the Cold War era. The 10-nation alliance today is aiming to transform this remarkably varied region of 600 million people into a community like theEuropean Union by 2015. In 2007 thisactivegroup laid a planto turn the bustling region into a single market and production base. But current concerns over the territorial issuesand North Korea threatened the ASEAN unity. China has persistently refused to bring the disputes to the international arena, preferring to negotiate one on one with each rival claimant, and warned the U.S. not to intervene. However these ASEAN leaders are committed to ensure peaceful resolution of South China Sea conflicts,without resorting to the use of force, and in accordance with international law. In January the Philippines challenged China before an arbitration tribunal in the United Nations Convention, on the Law of the Sea. There is a need for the ASEAN leaders to put aside harsh differences and join in the proposed dispute-management mechanism in Beijing come July. They resolved to adopt a legally binding “Code of Conduct” (COC), thatis beneficial and friendly,to manage maritime conduct or bearing in the South China Sea.

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Tidbits:

G.R. No. 168715, September 15, 2010, MEDLINE MANAGEMENT, INC., ET AL.vs. GLICERIA ROSLINDA, ET AL.

Seafarer Case courtesy of Atty. Fidel Borja

Juliano did not die while he was under the employ of petitioners. His contract of employment ceased when he was discharged on January 20, 2000, after having completed his contract thereat. He died on August 27, 2001 or one year, seven months and seven days after the expiration of his contract. Thus, his beneficiaries are not entitled to the death benefits under the Standard Employment Contract for Seafarers. Moreover, there is no evidence to show that Juliano’s illness was acquired during the term of his employment with petitioners.