President Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to check on the condition of stranded Filipino seafarers in ships and seas after receiving reports on the matter. He asked the DFA to make a validation report.
“It pains me to realize that nandito ako (I’m here) and I cannot help Filipinos who are struggling even just to exist and not live. They are — you live one day at a time [there]. Kindly check on this and maybe we can also request to the government, itong government ninyo. Paki gawa na lang (your government. Please do everything) that you can. Whatever that effort is, try to just go out and help the Filipinos.”
President Duterte has also appealed to Malaysia to help the Filipinos stranded in Sabah.
Report from Mela Lesmoras
