Marcos orders aid for families of Filipino seafarers killed in Black Sea attack

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac to immediately extend assistance to the families of the two Filipino seafarers who were killed after their vessel was attacked in the northern Black Sea, Malacañang said Tuesday.

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President instructed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other concerned agencies to ensure that the victims’ families receive all available assistance.

“Iniutos po ng Pangulo kay Secretary Hans Cacdac na kausapin kaagad ang mga pamilya na naapektuhan at siguruhin po na lahat ng ayuda na legal ay maibigay po at maipaabot sa mga pamilya ng mga naapektuhang namatay na Filipino seafarers," said Castro.

(The President instructed Secretary Hans Cacdac to immediately speak with the affected families and ensure that all assistance allowed by law is provided and extended to the families of the Filipino seafarers who died.)

Castro also warned that local manning agencies and foreign principals found to have violated government regulations may face sanctions.

“Kung (malaman) naman po nila nag-violate ang local manning agencies at foreign principals, maaari silang matanggalan ng lisensya.”

(If local manning agencies and foreign principals are found to have committed violations, their licenses may be revoked.)

The Palace statement came a day after authorities confirmed that two Filipino seafarers were killed when their vessel was attacked in the northern Black Sea.

Following the deaths of the two Filipino seafarers, the DMW said on Tuesday that it will reiterate its "high-risk advisory" for the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Castro also welcomed reports that four Philippine-registered vessels had safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

“'Yan naman din po ang magandang balita. Nakakatuwa po ’yan dahil alam din po naman natin kung ano ang naging agreement natin sa bansang Iran.”

(That is good news. We are pleased because we know the agreement reached with Iran.) —KG, GMA News