Cacdac: Over half of Filipino seafarers in Black Sea repatriated
Seafarers meet with Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and OWWA Administrator PY Caunan during a gathering in Romania. (File photo courtesy of DMW)
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has repatriated 261 Filipino seafarers from the Black Sea after their vessels came under attack amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, speaking during an interview at DMW office, said the figure accounted for more than half of the 400 Filipinos deployed in the area.
He stressed that the DMW is closely monitoring Filipinos abroad, especially those affected by the conflict.
He urged manning agencies and ship operators to avoid the northern Black Sea, warning of grave risks posed by armed groups.
The two fatalities and injured crew members have already returned, while authorities continue to search for one seafarer still missing following the assault on their vessel.