Six Filipino seafarers who had been stranded in Suriname were flown back to the Philippines aboard KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on the evening of Friday, December 26, 2025, following a coordinated government-led return operation.
Rather than a routine arrival, the landing marked the end of a prolonged ordeal for the crew, who later disclosed that they had endured months of unresolved labor issues overseas. Upon disembarkation, they were received by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Assistant Secretary Maria Regina Angela Galias, who facilitated the immediate release of financial support through the agency’s AKSYON Fund to address their most urgent needs.
Temporary shelter and onward travel were also arranged as part of the initial response. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) provided hotel accommodations in Metro Manila and organized transportation for the seafarers’ return to their respective home provinces, allowing them time to recover after the journey.
According to the DMW, the repatriation was the result of coordinated efforts among several units working across jurisdictions. The Migrant Workers Office in Washington, D.C., collaborated with the Seabased Accreditation Bureau and the department’s AKSYON Unit to secure travel clearances, finalize logistics, and ensure the crew’s safe passage back to the country.
In accounts shared with labor officials after their arrival, the seafarers said they had been subjected to inhumane working conditions while abroad and had not received their salaries for more than two months. These claims are now part of the department’s case documentation.
The DMW confirmed that the group intends to pursue formal legal action with the agency’s assistance when proceedings begin in January 2026.
