Filipino seafarers’ wives urge Marcos to intervene in Algeria drug case

The wives of three Filipino seafarers currently detained in Algeria on drug charges have appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to initiate a government-to-government effort with the Algerian government for the acquittal or sentence reversal of their husbands.

The three are among eight Filipino crew members arrested in July 2023 after Algerian authorities discovered 35.8 kilograms of alleged cocaine aboard MV Harris, a Malta-flagged container vessel. Their names are being withheld to protect their families from public backlash.

According to the families, the seafarers were originally sentenced to 20 years at Berrouaghia prison in Algiers. Following an appeal filed by their Philippine government-provided lawyers and their manning agency, Eastern Mediterranean Manning Agency, Inc. (EastMed), five of the eight were acquitted. The remaining three — including the husbands of the women making the plea — had their sentences reduced to 15 years.

“This September or October, their Supreme Court will decide on their fate — our last straw,” one of the wives said at a press conference in Manila on Friday. “That’s why we’re humbly asking for the help of the President to intervene through a government-to-government approach. They have been suffering for nearly two years now. One of them has diabetes. Please help us correct this injustice — they are seafarers, not drug peddlers.”

EastMed’s former owner’s representative, Capt. Edgardo Flores, said the ship sailed from Valletta, Malta, and that global drug syndicates often use stevedores — dock workers responsible for loading cargo — who secretly plant illegal substances during loading.

The wives clarified that they are not blaming the Philippine government but are appealing for further help, as diplomatic support has so far included legal assistance and a visit arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to Algeria in March.

“They’re hopeless and miserable. We pity our children who miss their fathers. Please don’t let them grow up without them,” said another wife.

In a formal letter submitted to the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli, Libya, and the DMW, the women asked for urgent diplomatic support, citing the physical and emotional toll on their families.

“We deeply understand that international legal and diplomatic processes take time,” their letter reads, “but our families are suffering emotionally and mentally due to the prolonged uncertainty. Our children have grown up without their fathers. We continue to live in hardship and anxiety, not knowing when our loved ones will return.”

Just last April, 20 other Filipino crew members were temporarily detained by South Korean authorities after 50 boxes of suspected cocaine were found in the engine room of the Norwegian-flagged M/V Lunita. Sixteen of the crew were later repatriated, while four — including the ship’s captain — remain under investigation.