15 Filipino seafarers onboard two vessels held by Iran in Hormuz — DMW

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday said 15 Filipino seafarers are on board separate vessels that are being held by Iranian forces amid its ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

In an advisory, the DMW assured that the Filipinos were "safe and unharmed." 

They were on board the Panama-flagged container ship MSC Francesca and the Liberia-flagged Epaminondas as the vessels attempted to exit the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, April 22. 

The ships were intercepted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These are said to be in the vicinity of the Iranian coastline as of posting time.

According to the DMW, 10 Filipinos are on the Epamiondas, while the five others are on the MSC Francesca.

"We have been assured that all 15 seafarers are safe and unharmed. We remain in close coordination with their families, the manning agency, and shipowners, and continue to provide updates and support," Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said.

The DMW said it remains in close coordination with relevant stakeholders and assures the safety and protection of the affected seafarers.

Last Saturday, the DMW reported that at least 15 foreign-flagged ships carrying up to 260 Filipino crew members were able to exit the strait hours after Iran temporarily lifted its blockade. 

Iran resumed its control over the critical waterway as its dispute with the United States dragged on.

Cacdac was quoted by a Super Radyo dzBB report on Saturday that over 4,000 Filipino seafarers aboard some 500 foreign-flagged vessels were still in the Strait of Hormuz.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, Iran has refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while the US maintains its own naval blockade in the area. — VDV, GMA News