Thirteen crew members including six Filipinos of a ship that had refused to leave the waters of Iloilo City for three months following an impasse with the ship owner were rescued through the efforts initiated by the city's congressional representative, Julienne Baronda.

Crew members of foreign-flagged MV Hirman Star disembarked their vessel on Monday, June 30, after months of being stranded on the waters as they raised concerns on the seaworthiness of their ship and their unpaid salaries.

They had an impasse with the ship owner after the latter said the seafarers would only be paid if they would take the ship to Cebu or Singapore for repairs.

Baronda said she received a letter from the six Filipino seafarers on Saturday, June 28. In the letter, the seamen sought to be saved from their ordeal.

''So I immediately sent an email to DMW (Department of Migrant Workers) and OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration),'' she said.

''OWWA administrator Usec. PY Caunan arrived Monday morning and briefed me about the problem. I then convened a meeting with other government agencies that could help plus the ship owner and crewing agency. After about five hours of mediating between the ship owner and the stranded crew, they reached an agreement. And then we went up the vessel and fetched the crew,'' she added.

According to the lawmaker, the Filipino crew led by Capt. Arnold Piolo of Bacolod City disembarked on Monday night, while the Indian nationals remaining inside the ship are expected to be done with immigration processes and be able to disembark on Tuesday.

Baronda said President Marcos, who was also monitoring the situation, increased the financial assistance given to each of the distressed seafarers to P100,000.