13 seafarers rescued off Iloilo Strait

THIRTEEN seafarers -- six Filipinos and seven Indian nationals -- were rescued Monday evening, June 30, 2025, after being stranded for nearly three months aboard M/V Hirman Star, which was anchored near the Loboc anchorage area in Iloilo Strait.

Iloilo City Lone District Representative Julienne “Jam” Baronda led the rescue effort after receiving a request for help from the crew on June 28.

“After almost five hours of negotiation, the ship captain allowed us to board the vessel and meet them. Their problem over their salary was resolved,” Baronda said.

She said the 13 crew members will receive their salaries, while six Filipino crew members will receive P100,000 each from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa).

Baronda convened an emergency meeting on Monday with top officials from the DMW, Owwa, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard, and Maritime Industry Authority, as well as the vessel owner and crewing agency.

DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan, DMW Director Augusto San Diego, DMW-Western Visayas Director Glenda Aligonza, Owwa-Western Visayas Director James Mendiola, and Owwa-Western Visayas PSD Chief Rizza Moldes flew to Iloilo City to personally oversee the operation.

Also aiding the response were Commodore Christopher Auro of the Coast Guard District Western Visayas, who deployed three seaborne assets, and the Iloilo City Police Office (Icpo), which provided security coordination.

The crew had been stranded due to a standoff between the ship captain and the vessel owner regarding unpaid wages and issues of seaworthiness.

The owner had arrived in Iloilo City from the United Arab Emirates 30 days earlier but failed to resolve the issue until the intervention of the local and national government.

Three of the six Filipino crew members are from the Iloilo towns of Tigbauan, San Joaquin, and Estancia, while another hails from Bacolod City.

The rescued seafarers were brought ashore and are scheduled to undergo medical checks and debriefing on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

Repatriation will be handled by the crewing agency under the supervision of the DMW and Owwa.

Baronda also thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, and concerned government agencies for their swift coordination and action.

“Our gratitude also goes to Ma’am Gerthrode Mabilog for informing us of this concern,” she added.

Mabilog, in her response, thanked Baronda for prioritizing their call for help.

"You and your team have made so many families happy today by facilitating their safe disembarkation. You came at a time when all hope seemed lost for them. Thank you for illustrating the true spirit of public service. Padayon, Cong. Jam!" Mabilog said. (Leo Solinap)