11 Filipino seafarers back in PH, get P20,000 each

SAFELY HOME Seafarer EJ Paul Chumasera (in wheelchair) and 10 other crew members of True Confidence, a bulk carrier attacked by Houthi rebels at the Gulf of Aden last week, arrive in Manila on Tuesday night. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The 11 Filipino crew members of the bulk carrier M/V True Confidence that was attacked by Houthi rebels on the Gulf of Aden last week arrived in Manila on Tuesday night.

Second officer Mark Anthony Dagohoy recounted that he and other seafarers deployed lifeboats and abandoned the Barbados-flagged ship after it was struck by a missile on March 6. Dagohoy thanked the American and Indian naval ships that rescued them and brought them to Djibouti.

He said that he and the ship’s crew were aware of the risks of sailing through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea because of Operation Poseidon Archer, the US-led multinational military operation against the Houthis.

But Dagohoy said he and the other Filipinos agreed to man the bulk carrier for the sake of their families, relying solely on faith in God for their safety.

READ: 11 Filipino survivors of Houthi attack on ship back in PH

Two Filipino crewmen and a Vietnamese security officer were killed in the attack and went down with the vessel. Their remains have yet to be recovered.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) spokesperson Romel Lopez said on Wednesday that the 11 seafarers received cash assistance of P20,000 each, while the families of the two fatalities whose bodies have yet to be repatriated would get P10,000.

The DSWD recognizes the “challenges faced by the survivors and their families and is dedicated to offering assistance and support throughout the recovery process,” Lopez said in a statement.

He added that the cash aid was just the start of the support they would get from the DSWD.

“Rest assured that we will continue to assist the bereaved families in this difficult time,” Lopez said.

More government aid

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer in charge Hans Leo Cacdac, who was among the officials who were at the airport to welcome the 11 Filipinos, said the government would also help them. “We are relieved and grateful that our Filipino seafarers have finally returned home safely.

The government is committed to providing them with all the necessary support and assistance to help them recover from this traumatic experience and rebuild their lives,” Cacdac said in a press briefing.

The support package includes on-site medical and physical checkups from the Department of Health, financial and comprehensive reintegration support from the DMW and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, livelihood aid from the DSWD, and training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Cacdac said two other injured Filipino seamen would be arriving on Thursday via an air ambulance.

Galaxy Leader crew

The Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, are still holding captive another 17 Filipinos and other officers and crew of the M/V Galaxy Leader, a car carrier seajacked by the group in the Red Sea on Nov. 17.

The Houthis said they began their attacks on civilian shipping in the Red Sea and seized the Galaxy Leader in support of Hamas terrorists in their ongoing war against Israel.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said they have asked for help from other countries to secure the release of the Galaxy Leader’s officers and crew.