By Marita Moaje
MANILA – The families of three seafarers who are facing drug trafficking charges in Algeria appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to urgently intervene in their case through diplomatic channels and bring their loved ones home.
With the final trial scheduled in October, the seafarers, who have been detained since July 2023, are racing against time, their wives said at a press conference in Manila on Friday.
They thanked Philippine government agencies for their continued assistance, but believe only the President’s direct involvement could make a decisive difference in the case.
“Hindi po namin kayang tiisin ang 15 taon. Mr. President, sana po tulungan ninyo kami. Inosente po ang aming mga asawa (We cannot bear 15 years. Mr. President, please help us. Our husbands are innocent),” one of the wives said in a tearful appeal.
“Lumalapit kami ngayon at humihingi ng tulong sa Pangulong Marcos na kung pwede, eh may government to government na process or arrangement kung ano pa ‘yung diplomatic process na pwedeng gawin para po mapa-uwi na po yung mga asawa namin. Talagang inosente po sila at wala po sila kasalanan (We are appealing for your help, President Marcos, if there is a possible government-to-government process or arrangement, whatever diplomatic process can be done, so that they can return home. They are truly innocent and they are not guilty),” another wife added.
Eight Filipino crew members of MV Harris, a commercial vessel in Algeria, were arrested after 35.8 kilos of cocaine were found in the ship while docked in the capital Algiers.
During the first trial, all eight were sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment but on appeal, five were acquitted and returned to the Philippines.
The remaining three were handed reduced sentences of 15 years.
The wives said they could not understand why the others were released but their husbands remain in jail.
They said their husbands are in good condition, but one of the women expressed concern about her husband’s age and medical condition.
She said she is unsure if they would see each other again if the court would validate the 15-year sentence.
“Fifty-three (53) years old na po siya, at nung nalaman niya po na nahatulan po sila ng 15 years, lalo po siya nalungkot. Pano kung magiging 68, pag-uwi niya, matanda na at mayroon siyang iniindang sakit (He is now 53 years old, and when he found out that they were sentenced to 15 years, he became more sad. What if he is already 68 when he comes home? He is already old and he is suffering from a medical condition),” she said.
“Kasi paano kung lumala ‘yung sakit niya doon? Matanda na siya. Kawawa naman po siya kasi ako din po, may edad na po ako, 58 years old, so paano na kaya kung halimbawa mahatulan siya ng 15 years? So paano na po kung magkikita pa kaya kami (What if his condition gets worse? He is already old and so am I. I am 58 years old. What if he is sentenced to 15 years? Would we still see each other)?” she added.
The women said the Philippine government, through the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Embassy in Libya, has been in constant coordination with their families and even facilitated their visit to Algeria in March.
They said the agencies committed to closely monitor the case and provided an additional legal counsel to the two lawyers already given by the ship owners.
They also acknowledged the manning agency and the ship owners who have been taking care of them, even providing them with financial support.
The wives said the emotional toll on their families has been immense, sharing that their children’s welfare, including their mental health and social relationships, are affected by the drug charges.
“Hindi ko po ma-explain ‘yung aking nararamdaman ngayon. It’s so heavy, it’s so painful na nagdudusa siya doon sa kasalanang hindi naman ginawa. Napaka-unfair (I can’t explain what I’m feeling right now. It’s so heavy, it’s so painful that he’s suffering for a crime that he did not commit. It’s so unfair),” one of the women said.
“The government has helped, and we are grateful. But at this point, it’s only President Marcos who can make that call and save our families,” another one said. (PNA)
