Manila: Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Thursday assured that all Filipino crew members aboard two vessels attacked in the Persian Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, are safe and being moved to safer ports.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a radio interview, Cacdac reported that three cargo ships were hit by projectiles believed to be launched by Iran. He mentioned that two out of the three ships had Filipino crew members on board.
"One of the ships has 21 crew members, they are all safe, Filipino crew. The other one has 17 Filipino crew and they are all safe, they are being transported to a safer port at the moment," Cacdac said. He clarified that the third ship was a Thailand-flagged vessel with no Filipino crew.
Cacdac noted that the DMW is currently monitoring a total of 7,313 Filipino seafarers aboard vessels in and around the conflict areas of the Middle East. He confirmed that all these Filipino crew members are marked safe and accounted for.
In a related incident, Cacdac mentioned that search operations are ongoing for a Filipino crew member reported missing after a tugboat he was in was struck by a missile on its way to assist a distressed vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. "The search is still ongoing, there were crew found on the tugboat that was hit by the missile, but it wasn't him," he said.
Cacdac assured that, following directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) teams have visited the family of the missing seafarer to provide support and assistance.
He also revealed that an investigation is being conducted on the incident, including examining the actions of the ship owner. "The shipowner didn't register our crew member in our records, so that's one offense in itself. We will issue the final investigation at the right time. For now, let's focus on monitoring the search and rescue operations and providing assistance to the family," he added.
Cacdac urged shipowners and manning agencies to ensure the protection of Filipino seafarers, emphasizing their right to refuse sailing in high-risk and war-like areas, such as the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman. These conditions are under the International Bargaining Forum and have been approved by international maritime labor stakeholders.
