MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is coordinating the repatriation of the remains of a Filipino seafarer killed in an attack on the cargo vessel Velos Sapphire in the Persian Gulf on November 5, along with the return of 21 surviving Filipino crew members.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed during a press briefing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 that the vessel had reached a safe port and that the remains of the deceased seafarer had been disembarked in preparation for repatriation to the Philippines.
The cargo vessel was carrying 22 Filipino seafarers when it came under attack in the early hours of November 5. Of the 21 survivors, one sustained injuries but has since recovered.
“The President has directed us to do everything possible to assist the family, and I have personally conveyed the President’s condolences and assurances of support to the family,” Cacdac said.
The DMW chief also expressed his intention to personally visit the deceased seafarer’s family in their home province upon his return to the Philippines.
Cacdac clarified that the attack occurred in the Persian Gulf, not in the Strait of Hormuz or the Red Sea. He described the incident as the first reported attack on a vessel in the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, the DMW continues to monitor security threats in the Strait of Hormuz, where approximately 150 Filipino seafarers aboard 14 vessels have faced security risks since October.
The department said it remains focused on ensuring the safe return of the surviving crew members and providing assistance to the family of the deceased seafarer.
