21 rescued Pinoy seafarers, bodies of 3 workers in Kuwait to arrive Monday

THE 21 Filipino seafarers who were rescued from the Houthi rebels-attacked MV Tutor in the Red Sea are set to arrive Monday afternoon in Manila.

In a statement Sunday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the sailors reached the Port of Manama, Bahrain around 5:30 p.m. Saturday after being extracted by a United States Navy ship.

The Filipino seafarers were received by Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Anne Jalando-on Louis and were expected to board a flight home Sunday evening, the DMW said.

The seafarers, who underwent stress debriefing and medical checkups, will be joined by DMW Labor Attaché Hector Cruz.

The Filipino seafarers were on board the MV Tutor attacked by Houthi rebels while sailing in the Red Sea on June 12.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered all concerned government agencies to bring the Filipino seafarers to safety.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a media forum on Saturday that Filipino seafarers have options to refuse sailing in the Red Sea.

Meanwhile, also acting on the order of President Marcos to speed up repatriation, the remains of the three Filipino workers who perished in a fire that hit their apartment in al-Mangaf, Kuwait, are likewise coming home Monday.

The fire also happened on June 12.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration posted on Facebook that its Kuwait Post will process the letter of acceptance of the next of kin and other documents to ensure smooth turnover of the remains.

The agency assured assistance for the victims’ families. (PNA)