Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac expressed his apologies on Thursday for not attending the supposed meeting with the families of eight seafarers who are currently imprisoned in Algeria on charges of illegal drug possession.

This was after Cacdac made the families wait for almost two hours last week, only to be told that he was busy.

According to Capt. Edgardo Flores, former owner representative and now consultant of Eastern Mediterranean Manning Agency, the relatives of the seafarers waited for Cacdac, who did not show up for the Zoom meeting.

"They are the ones who set that, not us. Assistant Secretary (Jerome) Pampolina just told us that Cacdac is busy at that time," Flores said in an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE's digital show Usapang OFW on Tuesday.

After issuing an apology to the seafarers' families, DMW announced that a virtual meeting has been set for 30 November stating that Cacdac has already committed to attend the scheduled meeting.

The families as well as the shipping and manning agencies of the eight seafarers will meet for the fifth time with the DMW and its Sea-Based Offices. Of the meetings encountered, two took place in person, while the other two meetings were conducted virtually via Zoom.

The DMW gave assurances of its support and assistance to the seafarers' families. This includes providing legal assistance and implementing courses of action with the Department of Foreign Affairs.