By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is set to conduct its own investigation on the licensed manning agency (LMA) and the shipowner that employed eight Filipino seafarers who were detained, and subsequently released in Malaysia, to determine accountability, and strengthen protection mechanism for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“May imbestigasyon kung anong nangyari talaga lalo na’t nauna pang makalabas ang may kasalanan sa lahat (There is an investigation into what really happened, especially since the culprit was released before everyone else),” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a news release on Tuesday.
Cacdac personally met with the seafarers and their families on Monday at the DMW office in Mandaluyong City and assured them of sustained government support.
“Tinatanong palagi ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. kung kumusta na sila at kanilang pamilya. Kaya’t ganon na lang ang aming pagsubaybay sa kapakanan ng bawat OFW. Patuloy po kaming tutulong sa inyo (President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. always asks how they and their families are doing. That’s why we are monitoring the welfare of each OFW. We will continue to help you),” he said.
One of the seafarers extended his gratitude to the Philippine government for taking care of them.
“Sobrang na-appreciate po namin na di kami pinabayaan ng gobyerno natin kasi ngayon lang kami nakaranas ng ganon. Talagang ang sarap sa pakiramdam na di niyo kami pinabayaan. Sobrang salamat kasi hindi po biro, hindi namin alam kung mamamatay kami doon (We really appreciate that our government didn’t abandon us because we’ve never experienced anything like this before. It’s really a good feeling that you didn’t abandon us. Thank you so much because it’s no joke, and we don’t know if we’re going to die there),” he said.
The DMW said the eight Filipino seafarers, together with 12 Indian, all crew members of the crude oil tanker MT Krishna 1, were arrested and detained by the Royal Malaysian Police at Kota Tinggi Police District Headquarters in Johor on April 11, due to alleged immigration offenses for entering Malaysia without passports and valid documents.
The Migrant Workers Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) Malaysia immediately coordinated with Kota Tinggi police authorities and ensured the welfare and well-being of the seafarers.
The seafarers’ licensed manning agency and principal cooperated during the police investigation and assured the continued payment of salaries and benefits to the seafarers and their families.
The DMW-MWO-OWWA provided welfare and legal assistance to the Filipino seafarers and raised the defense of good faith before the investigating officer.
They were subsequently released on April 18, and were repatriated back to the country on April 21. They received financial assistance from the DMW’s AKSYON Fund and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s learning vouchers for skills training for other job opportunities. (PNA)
