CHAIRPERSON of the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Jude A. Acidre on Monday welcomed the 21 Filipino seafarers victims of a Houthi attack last Independence Day in the Red Sea.
“Natutuwa tayo kasi to date this is one of the fastest repatriation na nangyari,” Rep. Acidre told crew members on Monday. “Malaking bagay, hindi lang ang efforts ni Secretary Hans at ng buong Department of Migrant Workers, ng ating Presidente, kundi pati na rin ang pagtutulungan ninyo. Sinigurado ninyo na tayo ay magkakasamang makabalik sa Pilipinas.”
Rep. Acidre also shared that Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez granted a P150,000 cash assistance per crewman, government assistance for qualified immediate family members, Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), Livelihood Package, and Tulong Dunong Program Scholarship for their qualified children.
“Pagpapakita ito na tulad ng wala kayong iwanan sa barko, pagsampa ninyo, wala rin tayong iwanan dito,” added Rep. Acidre. “This is the least we could do for everything you’ve been through and everything you’ve done to be safe para makabalik kayo sa mga pamilya niyo.”
Last June 12, the Yemeni rebel group Houthi attacked the merchant MV Tutor with a Liberian flag. Onboard are 22 Filipino crew members, one of which is still missing to date.
The Philippine government, in coordination with international forces, is still locating Nixon Caspillo Asejo, the ship’s second engineer, who was last seen in the engine room during the attack.
Along with Rep. Acidre in welcoming the Filipino seafarers back are DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, and Labor Attache Hector Cruz.
The seamen were received by the Philippines’ Ambassador to Bahrain Anne Jalando-on Louis last Saturday.
The crewmen were onboard a Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Manila and landed on June 17, around 11:30 AM, in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to show support for Palestinians in Gaza amid conflict with Israel
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