TWO Filipino seafarers aboard a Liberian-flagged tanker Central Park will soon get repatriated, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
The commercial vessel was subject of a hijacking attempt last Sunday while in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel sent a distress call, to which a US Navy warship responded, thwarting the hijacking, according to US officials. The attackers are suspected to be Houthi rebels who earlier seized another Israel-linked vessel
DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said families of the seafarers have sought their repatriation.
“Usually, in similar situations, we really recommend that they come home and be with their families,” said Cacdac.
“They must be given appropriate time for their full recovery. It will be not enough if they are not able to be with their loved ones,” he added.
Cacdac also said the two remain safe in an undisclosed location
“It would be inappropriate at this stage to identify their location,” he said.
Cacdac also said the DMW continues to coordinate with the families of the two crew members of the tanker Central Park.
“We are making sure that the families feel our assurances of support and our presence, whether face-to-face or video conferencing,” he said. — Gerard Naval
