PBBM CONDOLES WITH FAMILIES OF 2 FILIPINO SEAFARERS KILLED IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed condolences to the families of two Filipino seafarers who died in the Strait of Hormuz and vowed government assistance to their families, Malacañang said Thursday.

“Unang-una po ay nakikiramay po ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon sa pamilya ng dalawang seafarers mula sa Cabuyao, Laguna at Daanbantayan, Cebu,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing on Thursday.

Castro said President Marcos has been informed about the incident and the death of the two Filipino seafarers and immediately directed Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac to assist the families.

“At nag-utos na ang Pangulo agad-agad na tulungan ang mga pamilya ng dalawa nating kababayan na nasawi at ibigay ang lahat ng kailangan nila pati ang benepisyo, compensation, insurance proceeds na naaangkop na dapat ibigay sa ating kababayan na nasawi,” Castro added.

“At hindi po pababayaan ng gobyerno, ng pamahalaan iyong pamilyang naiwan ng dalawa nating kababayan,” Castro said.

“Muli, nakikiramay po kami sa pamilya ng dalawa po nating seafarers at tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pag-uulat ni Secretary Hans Cacdac patungkol po dito sa ating dalawang kababayan,” she also said.

In a separate statement, the DMW said the agency mourns the deaths of two Filipino seafarers following a security incident involving the Saudi-operated oil tanker Sidr as it transited the Strait of Hormuz on August 31.

In response to President Marcos’ directive to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos affected by the ongoing security situation and welfare of Filipinos affected by the ongoing security situation in the Middle East, Cacdac has instructed all relevant DMW offices to provide immediate and appropriate assistance to the affected Filipino crew and their families.

The DMW, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Philippine Embassy and Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Oman, together with other concerned government agencies, are closely coordinating with the vessel’s principal, the licensed manning agency, and relevant authorities to ensure the earliest possible repatriation of the Filipino crew while providing all necessary medical, welfare, and other assistance, the agency said in their statement.

The DMW said it is also working with the relevant parties to facilitate the proper handling and repatriation of the remains of the two Filipino seafarers who lost their lives in the incident.