A lawmaker has urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to give due attention to the recent case of 20 Filipino seafarers under investigation following the largest drug bust in South Korea’s history.
According to reports, two metric tons of what is believed to be cocaine was discovered by South Korean authorities in a hidden compartment on the MV Lunita cargo vessel.
OFW Partylist Rep. Marissa Magsino appealed to the agency to ensure the mariners and their families are provided with adequate legal assistance to protect them throughout the probe.
Magsino stressed that the role seafarers play in sustaining the global economy should not be overlooked. Moreover, she said Filipinos must assert their right to defend themselves.
On Friday, DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay assured in an online briefing that the crew’s needs are being met by the ship owner, who continues to provide their entitlements and allotments, including wages, food supplies, and other basic necessities.
