SURVIVORS ARRIVAL. Personnel of the Department of Health provide medical attention to the survivors of the Houthi missile attack upon their arrival at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Tuesday evening (March 12, 2024). The attack on the M/V True Confidence killed three -- two Filipinos and one Vietnamese. (Photo courtesy of DMW)
MANILA – Eleven of the 13 Filipino crew members of bulk carrier M/V True Confidence attacked by Houthi rebels, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Tuesday night from Djibouti.
The group includes one of the three Filipino crew members who sustained injuries when Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted their vessel with an anti-ship missile last week in the Gulf of Aden.
Officials of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomed the Filipino seafarers.
DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said the repatriates have received an assistance package through a whole-of-government approach to further ensure their safety and welfare.
It includes on-site medical and physical check-ups from the DOH, financial and comprehensive reintegration support from the DMW and OWWA, as well as livelihood aid from the DSWD, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
“Rest assured that the President has ordered the government agencies here before you arrived this evening to provide the fullest assistance within our authority in order to provide the foremost welfare and protective programs and services to our dear OFW seafarers and their families,” Cacdac said.
In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, DSWD spokesperson Romel Lopez said the DSWD has already extended PHP10,000 worth of initial cash assistance to the mother of one of the two Filipino casualties.
He said the bereaved family of the other casualty will also receive help from the DSWD as instructed also by Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
“The DSWD expresses its heartfelt condolences to the families of the two Filipino seafarers who perished in the tragic incident,” Lopez said.
Mark Anthony Dagohoy, second officer of M/V True Confidence, who arrived with the group thanked the government for assistance and for immediately helping them return to the country despite losing all their documents and belongings.
He, however, expressed sadness as their three seafarers, including two Filipinos, died in the missile attack.
“Nalulungkot po talaga, talagang grabe, kasi nakasama namin ng ilang ano yun, nagsasalo salo, tapos biglang ganun lang mangyayari so napakasakit din po sa amin, lalo na sa pamilya (We really feel sad, we were together, we eat together, then, that incident happened, it is so painful, especially for the families),” Dagohoy said.
Asked if they want to go back and work in the ship again, he said, “Sa ngayon gusto lang muna namin makauwi at makasama pamilya namin (For now, we just want to be with our families)”.
Cacdac said two other injured Filipino seafarers are now in stable condition and are being treated in a hospital in Djibouti.
He said one of the two injured Filipinos got his leg amputated while the other had his face burned.
Cacdac said salvaging operations on the attacked vessel are ongoing to retrieve the remains of the three fatalities – two Filipinos and one Vietnamese. (with a report from Zaldy De Layola/PNA)
