Fifteen Filipino crew members aboard two container ships seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz are unharmed, the Department of Migrant Workers said Wednesday, as the government moves to support their families back home.
The vessels — Epaminondas, carrying 10 Filipino seafarers, and MSC Francesca, with five — were intercepted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on April 22 while attempting to pass through the strait. Both ships are now positioned near the Iranian coastline.
Their families have been notified and are receiving assistance from the government, DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said, with his department coordinating closely with the manning agency and shipowners involved.
“We have been assured that all 15 seafarers are safe and unharmed. We remain in close coordination with their families, the manning agency, and shipowners, and continue to provide updates and support,” Cacdac said.
The seizure is the latest in a series of vessel interceptions in the region that began surfacing in reports as far back as late February, as maritime tensions in the area have continued to escalate. The DMW said it is pursuing all necessary measures to protect the welfare of the affected crew members, consistent with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s standing directive to prioritize the safety of overseas Filipino workers.
