As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during his State of the Nation Address on Monday assured that no one will be left behind in all aspects, 11 ill-fated Filipino seafarers who were wrongfully charged in Nigeria with unlawful importation of illegal drugs, which was later overturned by a Nigerian court, are now asking the Marcos Administration for their immediate release and repatriation.
Based on the documents obtained from Captain Edgardo Flores, consultant, and former owner’s representative of Eastern Mediterranean Manning Agency, the 11 Filipino seafarer defendants, who were requested by the said agency to withhold their names, were ordered to be discharged last 17 July 2023 by the Federal High Court in the Lagos Judicial Division, Lagos, Nigeria.
“(1) It is hereby ordered that the Defendants be and are hereby discharged pursuant to Section 302 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. (2) That an order is hereby made that the Defendants are released from the bonds they had executed and security for their coming for their trials. (3) and that an order is hereby made that the International Passports of the Defendants be released to the Defendants,” the court order stated, signed by Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
According to Flores, the 11 seafarers were seized due to an allegation of unlawful importation of 13.65 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria brought against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
“Justice Oweibo set the Filipino seafarers free after upholding their no-case-submission application, in which they argued that the Nigerian drug agency failed to link them with the crime. The judge also ruled that the anti-drug agency failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants that would have compelled the Court to order them to open their defense,” according to Flores.
He said the Filipino seafarers were arraigned before the Court alongside their vessel, MV Karteria on 13 May 2022 by the said anti-drug agency.
They were arrested at GDNL Terminal Apapa Port in Lagos, on 7 November 2021, Flores said.
Charges filed against the 11 seafarers are conspiracy, unlawful importation, and transportation of the prohibited substance.
During the trial, the prosecution called six witnesses and presented several exhibits, which included the bulk of the seized drugs, defendants’ statements, and laboratory test analysis report, which were all admitted by the court.
The defendants, however, opted to file a no-case submission application instead of opening their defense.
They argued that the prosecution failed to link them to the crime, so the court should dismiss the case and set them free. NDLEA opposed the 11 Filipinos’ submission.
After analyzing all submissions made by the defense team and prosecution, Justice Oweibo upheld the defendants’ no-case submission.
“Despite the favorable ruling, the 11 seafarers remain in detention for 18 months now, thus, the Filipino crew and their crewing company, Eastern Mediterranean Manning Agency, are earnestly seeking help from the government for their speedy release and repatriation. That’s why we are seeking the help of President Marcos Jr, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Toots Ople, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac for their immediate release and repatriation,” according to Flores.
