
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) guaranteed legal assistance to eight Filipino seafarers detained in Malaysia for alleged violation of Malaysian immigration laws and regulations.
In a statement on Black Friday, April 18, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac identified the seafarers as crew members of MT Krishna 1. They were detained at a police station in Kota Tinggi, a district in the Malaysian state of Johor.
Cacdac said personnel of the Migrant Workers’ Office (DMW-MWO) in Malaysia conducted a welfare visit to check on the well-being of the detained Filipinos.
“Our Labor Attachè Jocelyn Ortega and DMW-MWO lawyer in Malaysia visited the eight jailed seafarers and raised the defense of good faith defense before the investigating officer. We have been informed that the results of the investigation will be out soon,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the DMW said the unidentified licensed manning agency (LMA) of the seafarers assured the continued payment of their salaries and benefits.
Cacdac said the DMW will launch an investigation on the LMA and the shipowner to determine the circumstances that led to the detention of the seafarers, and whether adequate protective measures were undertaken.
According to the Malaysian immigration department, living and staying in Malaysia without a valid pass or permit is an offense under the Malaysian Immigration Act which is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years and a hefty fine.