Six of the 17 Filipino crew members from the ill-fated cargo vessel, MV Magic Seas, arrived separately yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City and Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
The 17 crewmen escaped the assault by suspected Houthi rebels on their ship on July 6 while they were cruising the Red Sea near Hodeidah, Yemen. The tanker was carrying iron and fertilizers from China enroute to Turkey when attacked.
Three of the seafarers arrived at NAIA around 4:30 p.m. and were warmly welcomed by a whole-of-government team led by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Assistant Secretary Francis Ron De Guzman and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Ryan Vincent Uy.
Three other crew members arrived thirty minutes earlier at Clark International Airport.
The seafarers received financial assistance of P75,000 each from the DMW’s AKSYON Fund and OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Fund. Additionally, DSWD provided P10,000 each, while the MIAA Medical Team conducted health check-ups for the returning sailors.
DMW Assistant Secretary De Guzman assured the seafarers that the government will support their reintegration and provide further assistance as ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos.
The ship’s chief officer said that they are still in shock after their ordeal but are grateful for the support provided by the Marcos administration.
OWWA also arranged hotel accommodations and transportation assistance for the seafarers to ensure their safe return to their families and communities.
