Marcos assures legal aid for families of slain seafarers

MANILA, July 22 ------ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Migrant Workers to provide all legal aid to the families of two slain seafarers at the Black Sea.

The seafarers were killed in a series of Russian drone strikes that hit their commercial vessels. "Sa ngayon po iyong mga naapektuhan po dito na ating mga kababayan iniutos po ng Pangulo kay Secretary Hans Cacdac na kausapin kaagad ang mga pamilya ng mga apektado at siguruhin po na ang lahat ng ayuda na legal ay maibigay po at maipaabot sa mga pamilya ng mga naapektuhang mga namatay na Filipino seafarers," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing on Tuesday.

Castro said the DMW is investigating the deaths of the seafarers. One Filipino remains missing and 12 others were injured in the attack. "Kapag nalaman nila na nag-violate ang local manning o foreign principals and or local manning agencies, maaari po silang matanggalan ng lisensiya," Castro said.

Meanwhile, four Philippine registered vessels have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz amidst renewed tensions between US and Iran. "Nakakatuwa po iyan dahil alam din naman po natin kung ano po ang naging agreement natin sa bansang Iran. At kaya nga po tinitingnan po ni Secretary Hans Cacdac na kung ito bang mga vessel na ito ay nakapag-report na may mga Filipino seafarers silang kasama dahil protektado po ang ating mga kababayan sa pagbiyahe po dito sa Strait of Hormuz," Castro said.

The Embassy of Ukraine on Tuesday extended its condolences to the families of the Filipino seafarers, stressing that civilian ships should not be attacked. It said Ukraine has informed the International Maritime Organization, international partners, and the home countries of affected crew members of the attacks.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com