The Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration announced that 14 Filipino seafarers arrived past midnight on Saturday, at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1.

DMW senior officials Assistant Secretaries Levinson Alcantara and Jerome Pampolina welcomed the 14 seafarers who were part of the crew of the marine vessel KMAX RULER, which was struck by a Russian missile in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Pivdennyi last month.

Arnel Lopez, the ship captain who was near the Ukrainian pilot killed in the missile attack said that he witnessed how the pilot died when the missile hit their ship.

"We are sticking to the port. The pilot is assisting me. Then something suddenly exploded. He died, he was hit," Lopez said.

"Of course, I was scared. On the face (wounded) it's made of broken blows. Then my back hurt a little, then I became a little deaf," Lopez added.

Second Officer Jovanny Perez pleaded to the government to help them as they are still under contract.

"We are asking for a little help because many of us are still under contract. And to the Filipino seafarers who are about to enter, if possible, avoid traveling to this war zone area," Perez pleaded.

DMW said that the manning agency shouldered the costs of the seafarers' return to the country as well as the transit and accommodations on their way home to their respective provinces.

Twenty-five Filipino seafarers were part of the crew aboard the KMAX RULER when a missile attack occurred. Among them were three Filipinos who sustained injuries but are now in recovery. Over the past weekend, all three injured seafarers managed to return to their home country and have been reunited with their families.

All crew members received initial medical checks and psychosocial assessments, with an initial P10,000 financial aid from OWWA. The manning and shipping agencies are set to provide further insurance and additional benefits to support the affected seafarers.