FIVE Filipino seafarers of the Antigua-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao arrived in Manila last Sunday, Sept. 27, after surviving torpedo attacks off the coast of Oman.
The repatriation of the Filipino crew members was carried out following damage sustained by the vessel during an incident while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz (SOH) on Sept. 23, 2026.
Representatives from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) — led by OIC-Assistant Secretary for Sea-based OFW Concerns Augusto San Diego III — along with representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and medical teams from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC), welcomed the repatriated seafarers.
“We are pleased to welcome you back safely and soundly following the incident you were involved in. Rest assured that your government, led by the DMW and OWWA, will continue to provide support as you recover and rest with your families,” San Diego said.
Meanwhile, representatives from Sea Workforce Manila Corporation, the manning agency that deployed the seafarers, also met the arriving crew members at the airport to provide additional assistance and necessary support.
The DMW and OWWA also directed the manning agency to ensure that the seafarers undergo the necessary physical and psychological evaluations, as well as debriefing sessions, if required.
The agency was further reminded to ensure that the crew members receive all appropriate benefits and compensation due to them in connection with their repatriation.
In accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DMW reiterated to licensed manning agencies and their accredited principals the need to continuously monitor the status and condition of their Filipino seafarers at all times, ensure compliance with necessary safety precautions, and implement existing protocols for vessels carrying Filipino seafarers that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The five seafarers were part of the 28-man crew sailing from Mina Saqr to India via Oman when two torpedoes struck the ship’s port side off the Coast of Oman.
The explosion damaged the ship’s accommodation area and part of the engine room, sparking fire onboard.
There were 20 Indian nationals onboard, one of whom was tragically killed, and eight Filipino seafarers all of whom were repatriated back to the Philippines.
