127 Filipino seafarers awaiting repatriation —DFA

At least 127 stranded sea-based Filipino workers have yet to be repatriated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

In a televised briefing, DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Brigido Dulay said they have asked for assistance from several countries to facilitate the repatriation of the seafarers.

“Maraming mga bansang nagbabawal na dumaong ‘yung ating mga barko kung nasaan ‘yung ating mga kababayan. Sana padaungin para maibaba at maiuwi natin,” Dulay said.

“Mayrong mga ibang bansa na sa totoo lang sarado pa ang kanilang borders, hindi pa sila nagpapapasok ng flights.”

Dulay added 61,716 sea-based overseas Filipino workers have already returned to the country.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte directed the DFA to seek out Filipino seafarers who are stranded abroad.

This situation was made worse given that foreign ports would not allow these Filipinos to step ashore, leaving them ill and stranded aboard ships out at sea, he said.

“A human being should never, never be a commodity that is just left behind to rot. These are human beings and Filipinos,” Duterte had said. —LBG, GMA News