Malacañang on Thursday assured the public that the Philippine government continues to provide legal and financial assistance to the remaining three Filipino seafarers detained in Algeria over a drug-related case.
During a Palace press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) are actively working to protect the rights and welfare of the Filipino nationals involved in the case.
“"Ayon na din po sa utos ng Pangulo, ang DMW pati na rin po ang DFA ay ginagawa lahat ng paraan sa mga kababayan natin nasasangkot sa mga kaso",” Castro said.
Castro relayed the official statement of the DMW, which confirmed that the case involving the three remaining Filipino seafarers accused in connection with several kilograms of cocaine remains pending before Algerian courts.
“The DMW together with the DFA has provided the services of counsel for all three seafarers. The lawyers successfully worked on the dismissal of the case of five out of the eight seafarers who were accused,” Castro stated.
She added that the sentences of the remaining three seafarers had already been reduced and that they are currently awaiting the results of their appeal.
“The three remaining seafarers had their sentences reduced and are awaiting the results of the appeal,” she said.
The DMW also disclosed that compassionate family visits were arranged during the detention period and that financial assistance was extended to repatriated individuals and affected families.
According to the agency, the ship owner has continued sending remittances to the families of the detained seafarers while the case remains ongoing.
“The DMW is continuously monitoring the status of the case. And the Philippine government respects the judicial process of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria as it pursues all legal avenues to protect the rights of its Filipino nationals who are currently detained,” Castro added.
