DFA confident Iran will release 4 Pinoy crewmen from seized ship

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) believes that the four Filipino crewmen of Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC Aries will soon be released by the Iranian government.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo de Vega said during the Bagong Pilipinas briefing that the four Filipinos seafarers from the MSC Aries were all in good condition even after the ship was seized by Iran's Revolutionary Guards last April 13.

“Nasa mabuting kalagayan naman sila. Nakausap ang pamilya nila. At pinapangakuan sila na mapapalaya rin sila sa lalong madaling panahon (They are in good condition. They talked with their families. And they were promised that they will be released at soonest possible time),” he said on Tuesday, April 16.

De Vega expressed confidence that the Filipinos will soon be set free.

“Tingin namin mapapalaya ang ating mga kababayan na hindi tatagal (We think our fellow countrymen will be released in no time),” he stressed.

“Syempre, kinakausap din natin ang mga taga Iran tungkol dito (Of course, we are also talking to Iran about this),” the official added.

He likewise noted that the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is “in touch” with the seafarers’ manning agency.

The DFA, on the other hand, is in discussions with the Iranian government.

De Vega shared that all of the Filipino crewmen were allowed and able to talk with their families last night for an hour.

“Nasa mabuting kalagayan sila (They are in good condition). But, of course, hindi ibig sabihin masaya sila na nasa situation na ganito (they are not happy that they are in this situation) after the seizure of the ship,” he said.

“At least, alam natin hindi sila sinasaktan, pinapakain sila (they are not hurt, they are being fed). They are healthy. Saka (And) they are doing their normal duties para sa barko na (for the ship that’s now) under the Iran authorities’ possession right now,” the official added.

On April 13, the MSC Aries was seized for apparently “violating maritime laws” and claimed that it was “linked to Israel.”

The cargo vessel was seized in the Strait of Hormuz days after Iran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus last April 1.

Over the weekend, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and explosive drones, marking its first direct attack on Israeli territory.

Tehran said the strike was self-defense after the bombing of the consulate.