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5 of 27 Pinoy seafarers from Houthi-hit MV Transworld Navigator arrive in PH

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Nicole Agcaoili

ABS-CBN News

<div><span dir="ltr" id="isPasted"></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17197519838101713059278855404953095_655284740105328_5854260818608547708_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">In this handout file photo, government personnel, including from the Department of Migrant Workers, assist OFW returnees from Israel on November 23, 2023. DMW Facebook page</span> </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — Five of the 27 Filipino seafarers of MV Transworld Navigator attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea returned to the Philippines on Sunday, June 30.</p><p>The first batch of Filipino seafarers from the Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned cargo ship were repatriated on an Emirates flight that arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Sunday afternoon.</p><p>The returning seafarers were welcomed by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/24/dfa-says-all-filipinos-in-houthi-hit-ship-in-israel-are-safe-1411" id="isPasted">READ: DFA says all Filipinos in Houthi-hit ship in Israel are &#x27;safe&#x27;</a></div><p>DMW Assistant Secretary for Sea-based OFW Concerns Jerome Pampolina said the seafarers withstood multiple attacks but that the ship was able to continue sailing to Egypt.</p><p>“Yung lima po na tripulante, nakabalik na po. Yung iba pong tripulante pabalik na rin po, naka-schedule sila I believe sometime (sa) July 2, Tuesday. Yung isa yata may flight na — I think midnight ng July 3. So pabalik na po lahat, all safe. Wala naman pong na-injure or nasaktan,” said Pampolina.</p><p>He said the seafarers are going through emotional stress after their ordeal.</p><p>“Medyo emotional — kasi kuwento nila, nung time na tinatamaan daw sila, medyo parang iniisip na nila na &#x27;yun na daw. So parang emotional yung mga nakita namin, yung unang lima na nakarating,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/25/mga-pinoy-bawal-na-sa-mga-shipping-company-na-inatake-ng-mga-houthi-1938" id="isPasted">RELATED:  Pinoy bawal na sa mga shipping company na inatake ng mga Houthi </a></div><p>He assured the seafarers that DMW will provide financial and psychological assistance should they need it.</p><p>“Tumutulong rin po ang kanilang licensed manning agency, sila po ang mag po-provide ng initial na medical assistance kung kinakailangan. Pero po kung kinakailangan pa ng karagdagang medical assistance, ready po ang Department of Migrant Workers at ang OWWA para po mag provide ng assistance,” he said.</p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The DMW urged licensed manning agencies to report high-risk voyages so seafarers will have time to decide if they want to go through with it.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“We are encouraging yung mga ship owners and licensed manning agencies na pag dadaan po doon, as much as possible i-divert. We understand na yung mga vessels nila might be required to go to war-like and high-risk zones… but we’re encouraging them to divert. That is the provisions in the department order,” he said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Meron po kaming hotline sa DMW – 1348 yun po yung kasama po sa One Repatriation Command Center. Puwede po silang tumawag dun at sabihin nila: &#x27;DMW, gusto ko po i-avail yung right to refuse to sail&#x27;. So, kontakin lang po namin yung licensed manning agency para po pabalikin sila. Sa department order po dapat wala pong consequence sa kanila.” he also said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MV Transworld Navigator is the fourth ship with Filipino crew on board attacked by Houthi rebels since November last year.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NLGFyOdZqOA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The first batch of Filipino seafarers from the Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned cargo ship were repatriated on an Emirates flight on Sunday afternoon.</p>

The first batch of Filipino seafarers from the Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned cargo ship were repatriated on an Emirates flight on Sunday afternoon.