Twenty-one Filipino crew members of the MV Tutor, which was attacked by Houthi rebels while sailing at the Red Sea on Wednesday, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 3, 11:10 a.m., Monday, June 17, onboard Gulf Air flight GF154.
The Filipino seamen were welcomed by top officials of the Department of Migrant Workers (DNW), headed by Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Department of Health (DOH).
The seafarers' repatriation was facilitated by Labor Attache Hector Cruz of the DMW’s MWO-AL Khobar. All of them also received financial assistance of 192 Bahraini dinars (equivalent\ to P30,000) each.
The 21 Filipino seafarers were rescued from the Houthi-hit MV Tutor in the Red Sea a few days after they were rescued Friday evening upon the order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
There were actually 22 Filipino seafarers on board the MV Tutor when it was attacked by Houthi rebel group while sailing along the Red Sea on Wednesday. Another Filipino remained missing.
President Marcos ordered on Friday all concerned government agencies to bring the Filipino seafarers to safety, resulting in the successful rescue of the 21 seafarers while one remains missing aboard the vessel.
They arrived at around 5:30 pm on Saturday at the Port of Manama, Bahrain.
According to DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, search operations are underway to locate the remaining missing Filipino seafarer.