MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday assured full support to the family of a Filipino seafarer who went missing, after a tugboat assisting a distressed ship was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency, along with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and relevant regional offices, contacted the seafarer’s family to provide help.
“Our team a few days ago had already visited the family’s home and assured them of our full support during these difficult times while we await the results of the search and rescue at sea,” Cacdac said in a statement.
The seafarer, who was not named, was a tugboat crew member, who responded to assist another vessel attacked over the Strait of Hormuz.
Cacdac said while the seafarer’s fellow colleagues were all reported safe, that lone seafarer remains unaccounted for.
Around 6,400 Filipino seafarers on vessels in the Middle East were monitored and marked safe, while the DMW keeps track of ships carrying Filipino crew members near the Strait of Hormuz.
