TACLOBAN CITY – Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre has welcomed the safe return of eight Filipino seafarers from the MV Eternity C, who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on July 16, 2025, after surviving a harrowing ordeal in the Red Sea.
The Filipino crew had been stranded amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea region, prompting a coordinated response from multiple Philippine government agencies to secure their safe passage home.
Rep. Acidre expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for leading the government’s swift action, and to key officials including Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Tess Lazaro for ensuring the crew’s repatriation and welfare.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, the Migrant Workers Office–Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) team, and other national agencies, including the DMW, Overseas Welfare Workers Administration, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Health, among others.
“The safe return of our seafarers underscores our shared duty to protect those who carry our flag across the world and to ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” said Acidre, noting the vital role Filipino seafarers play in global maritime trade.
The Tingog party-list continues to advocate for stronger protection and reintegration programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially those exposed to high-risk areas due to geopolitical conflicts.
The return of the MV Eternity C crew was met with relief and gratitude from their families and serves as a testament to the importance of inter-agency coordination during times of crisis.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
