By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
Six Filipino crew members of the ill-fated Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MV Magic Seas safely arrived in the country on Friday afternoon.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said that three of the seafarers arrived at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga at about 4:00 p.m., followed by another group of three who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City.
The repatriated crew are among the 17 Filipino seafarers aboard the MV Magic Seas, together with two other crew members, that was attacked by Houthi forces.
DMW Assistant Secretary Francis Ron De Guzman welcomed the repatriated seafarers at the NAIA, together with officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Medical Team.
“The seafarers were provided a safety net in the form of financial assistance worth P75,000 each from DMW’s AKSYON Fund and OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Fund. DSWD also gave P10,000 each, while MIAA Medical Team immediately gave health check-ups to the seafarers,” the DMW said.
The OWWA provided hotel accommodations and transportation assistance for the seafarers to ensure their safe journey back to their families.
De Guzman also assured the crew members that the government, under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., would continue to support their reintegration and provide further assistance to help them recover from their ordeal.
Meanwhile, the ship’s chief officer, who arrived at the NAIA, said they remain in shock after what happened, but are grateful for the prompt help extended by the government.
MV Magic Seas was hit with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades from eight skiffs, as well as missiles and four uncrewed surface vessels, while sailing the Red Sea near Hodeidah, Yemen on July 6.
The crew members were able to abandon the ship and were rescued by the passing container ship Safeen Prism.
