13 Pinoy seafarers from vessel struck in Iraq now back in PH

Thirteen Filipino seafarers from a vessel struck by projectiles in Iraq arrived in the country on Friday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

The seafarers were crew of the M/V MSC Sariska V which was hit by projectiles while departing the Port of Umm Qasr, Iraq on June 1.

They were immediately evacuated from the said vessel by Iraqi authorities, the DMW said.

The seafarers arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Friday via a Philippine Airlines flight.

The DMW said their repatriation was done in coordination with the ship owner, the licensed manning agency, and the Philippine Embassy in Iraq.

Personnel of the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) medical team, and their manning agency, as well as the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) met the seafarers at the airport.

The seafarers were given airport assistance, medical evaluations, financial support. Onward travel to their home provinces were also coordinated.

They were also given temporary hotel accommodations by their manning agency and are set to receive comprehensive medical and psychosocial counseling sessions on Saturday. —KG, GMA News