House leader concerned over Iran's capture of vessel with 4 Pinoy seamen
At A Glance
- Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo has expressed his deep concern over the recent capture of the Portuguese vessel MSC Aries--which has four Filipino seafarers on board--by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Salo is the chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs.
Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo (Facebook)
The chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs has expressed his deep concern over the recent capture of the Portuguese vessel MSC Aries--which has four Filipino seafarers on board--by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo, the incident has placed the group of Filipino seafarers "in an extremely precarious position".
"It highlights the continued vulnerability of our overseas seafarers who are among the most affected in any international conflicts,” the veteran congressman said in a statement Sunday night, April 14.
At any rate, Salo commended the "swift response of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in coordination with the Office of the President, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the concerned licensed manning agencies".
"They have all worked diligently to reassure the families of the affected seafarers and for coordinating efforts aimed at securing their safe release,” he added.
In the same statement, the Overseas Workers Affairs panel chairman reiterated the critical importance of the proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, a legislative measure that aims to bolster the rights and welfare of Filipino maritime professionals.
“The safety and well-being of our Filipino workers, whether on land or at sea, are of utmost importance. The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers will not only provide them with greater protection but also ensure that their families are supported, especially in times of crisis,” Salo stressed.
The magna carta was supposed to be signed into law by President Marcos last Feb. 26. However, it was pulled at the last minute and returned to the Bicameral Conference Committee level for refinements.
The Kabayan solon is part of the bicam panel.
Salo says he also joins the world’s faithful in praying for the de-escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel, for greater restraint between and among the nations involved, and the peaceful resolution of the issues.