DMW: 11 rescued Magic Seas crew members to arrive in PH on Saturday night

The remaining 11 of the 17 Filipino crew members of the ill-fated MV Magic Seas, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, will arrive in the country on Saturday night, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

At the Saturday News Forum, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the 11 arriving crew members will “complete the 17 rescued Filipino seafarers.”

On Friday night, the first six Filipino crews of MV Magic Seas returned to the Philippines. The ship's chief officer, 2nd officer, and 3rd officer arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, while the rest landed at Clark International Airport.

Meanwhile, the 11 remaining seafarers will arrive at NAIA, according to Olalia.

The DMW official said the arriving seafarers will receive assistance from the government.

The first six seafarers who returned to the country received financial assistance worth P75,000 each from DMW's AKSYON Fund and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s Emergency Repatriation Fund and P10,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

They were also given hotel accommodation and transportation assistance to ensure their safe return to their families and communities.

DMW earlier reported that the Filipino seafarers, along with two other crew members, escaped the Liberian-flagged vessel they were boarding, which was under attack by alleged Houthi rebels last Saturday.

Magic Seas was about 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen, when it was attacked by men carrying rocket-propelled grenades and automatic firearms. —VAL, GMA Integrated News