IRAN FREES 3 FILIPINO SEAFARERS FROM SEIZED VESSEL

THE three remaining Filipino seafarers from the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries seized last April have been freed by the Iranian authorities, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Saturday.

DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac told a news forum in Quezon City that the seafarers have already returned home.

“Ang magandang ulat dito, hindi lang namin inanunsiyo pero quietly iyong tatlo na natira doon sa MSC Aries that was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard sa Strait of Hormuz ay nakauwi na – nakauwi na silang tatlo,” Cacdac said.

“Iyong tatlo nakauwi kamakailan lamang…noong mga Huwebes,” he added.

Iranian authorities seized MSC Aries on April 13 this year while traversing the Strait of Hormuz, near the Gulf of Oman.

Among the 25 crew members were four Filipinos. One Filipino seafarer was freed last May.