THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has (POEA) ordered the immediate repatriation and assistance to the 13 Filipino seafarers reported stranded in China.
In a phone interview, POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said he issued the order to the manning agency of the concerned sailors, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC).
In a separate development, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. sounded alarmed when apprised of the sailors’ plight.
Locsin Jr. said the DFA would do “whatever it takes,” to bring home the 13 Filipino seafarers stranded in this ship in the South China Sea for almost a year now.
“Oh God. Yes. I heard about them. Right now. WHATEVER IT TAKES INCLUDING ME BEGGING. TAGAL NA ITO. REPAT FLIGHT. HERE FIRST. SARAH,” Locsin said in his official Twitter account, referring to Sarah Lou Arriola, Undersecretary for Migrant Worker’s Affairs.
On Monday, one of the seamen came on video in social media, appealing to be brought home, “since many of us have been sick.”
He said the workers have been abandoned by the owner of the bulk carrier, M/V Angelic Power, and it appears that they are being held hostage by Chinese authorities, who wanted to be paid for the ship’s demurrage.
The Magsaysay Maritime Corporation said they have engaged lawyers to represent the 13 Filipino seafarers who have been stranded for 17 months now.
“My instruction to them [Magsaysay, the manning agency] is to repatriate them immediately. No ifs and buts. Immediately when the employment contract is terminated, they should be repatriated; immediately of course subject to travel restrictions,” Olalia said.
POEA asked MMC to submit an update on the status of the concerned sailors, who complained they have been stranded in China for several months now without any pay after their employer become embroiled in a case before a Chinese court.
Olalia said if MMC fails to comply with his instruction, he may be compelled to order the suspension of its license.
In a statement, MMC said it is doing its best to immediately repatriate and ensure the payment of wages for the affect seafarers.
“We are coordinating with our principal, the ship managers, to make this happen at the soonest possible time. Unfortunately, and much to our regret and frustration, this is easier said than done because of legal and regulatory considerations,” MMC explained
“In view of these complications, our principal has engaged lawyers to represent the interests of our crew in these proceedings and to help navigate other issues that may arise in the process of bringing them safely back home,” it added.