7 Pinoy seafarers from ill-fated Venezuela ship arrive home

Seven Filipino seafarers who survived a fire on their ship off Venezuela last Christmas Day arrived home Wednesday morning. Secretary Alberto Romulo of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) led Philippine officials in welcoming the seven seafarers who served aboard the MV Aegean Wind. The seven arrived Wednesday morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on a flight from Caracas, Venezuela. They were Franklin Ebrado, Jomarie Alcantara, Jason Alfante, Ronie Sarian, Tabigue Ubaldo, Robeytho Galam and Christopher Agra. They were received by a contingent from the DFA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Representatives from the manning agency Seapower Shipping Enterprises Inc., ship owner Atlantic Bulk Carriers, and ship insurer Protection and Indemnity Club (represented by Pandiman Philippines) were also present at the airport, the DFA said in a release posted on its website Wednesday. Seafarers to get benefits Romulo received assurances from the MV Aegean Wind's owner, manning agency, and insurers that the seafarers will get the benefits due them, the DFA said. The DFA quoted Seapower Shipping Enterprises Inc. representative Jocelyn Gueritan as saying the seafarers will receive their salaries and other benefits such as bonus, reimbursement for the loss of their personal effects, and travel allowance back to their hometowns. It added the seafarers will also be given medical check-ups. Gueritan also gave the assurance that the once the seafarers have had their rest, they can be redeployed immediately. Pandiman Philippines representatives said that the ship and its crew are covered by the ship’s insurance. Investigations are ongoing on the cause of the fire, according to Atlantic Bulk Carrier representative Capt. Stefanos Rizos, saying they are still awaiting the final report on the incident, he said. He added that they will closely coordinate with the manning agency and the ship’s insurers to ensure that the welfare of the surviving seafarers will be taken care of. Filipino fatalities MV Aegean Wind caught fire in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela last December 25, killing nine and injuring five. Six of the fatalities were Filipinos, whose remains arrived in the country last January 2. They were Bonifacio Vallescas, Reo Arias, Danilo Esparagoza, Noel Lagamon, Bryan Pragamac, and Jerry Espanola. At least two other Filipino seafarers were injured during the fire. One of those injured, Mark San Jose, arrived in Manila earlier. Meanwhile, the other injured crewman Cromwell Pilapil remains in Caracas receiving medical treatment for second-degree burns. According to the DFA report, he has been transferred to a private room from an intensive care unit and is awaiting clearance from his doctors when he can fly home. – Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV