DMW: Eight Pinoy seafarers detained in Malaysia

Metro Manila, Philippines - Eight Filipino seafarers have been detained in Malaysia due to alleged violations of local immigration laws and regulations, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Friday, April 18.

In a statement, the DMW said its Migrant Workers’ Office in Malaysia conducted a welfare visit to the eight Filipinos, who are detained in a police station in Kota Tinggi town.

The DMW said the Filipinos were crew members of vessel MT Krishna 1.

“Our Labor Attachè Jocelyn Ortega and DMW-MWO lawyer in Malaysia visited the 8 jailed seafarers and raised the defense of good faith before the investigating officer,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac was quoted as saying. “We have been informed that the results of the investigation will be out soon.”

“We are thankful to Malaysian authorities for allowing the welfare visit, and to Ambassador (Maria Angela) Ponce of the PHL Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for her guidance and support,” Cacdac said.

He also guaranteed the DMW will provide the necessary assistance and support to the detained Filipinos.

The DMW said the licensed manning agency of the seafarers has assured the continued payment of salaries and benefits to them.

“The DMW is set to conduct its own investigation of the LMA and the shipowner, in terms of finding out the circumstances that led to the 8 Filseafarers’ detention, and whether adequate protective measures were undertaken,” the agency said.