11 Pinoy seafarers from stricken Magic Seas repatriated

The 11 remaining Filipino seafarers of Liberian-flagged MV Magic Seas were scheduled to arrive in the Philippines Saturday evening, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed.

DMW Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Bernard Olalia told reporters that the seafarers will arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City around 11 p.m.

A total of 17 Filipinos were aboard MV Magic Seas when it was attacked by Houthis southwest Yemen last Sunday. The first six seafarers arrived Friday afternoon.

Among the first arrivals were the vessel’s chief officer, second and third officer who landed at NAIA Terminal 1 aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR685. The other three, mostly engineers landed at Clark International Airport in Pampanga at around 4 p.m.

The crew members were provided with financial aid from DMW’s AKSYON Fund and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s Emergency Repatriation Fund along with other forms of assistance from other agencies.

The ship’s chief officer admitted to still being in shock, DMW said.

Meanwhile, Olalia said they are still verifying reports that three out of the 21 Filipino crew members aboard another vessel, MV Eternity C had been killed in a separate attack on Monday.

Eight survivors from Eternity C were rescued and are now at a “safe port” awaiting repatriation, but 13 remain unaccounted for.

Olalia reminded Filipino seafarers of their right to refuse to sail.

The principal and the licensed manning agency of the 21 Filipino crew members of Eternity C has been suspended, according to DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac in an earlier statement.