DFA: Iran assures safety of 18 Filipino seafarers in their custody
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 15) — The Iranian government assured the safety of the 18 Filipino seafarers from the seized US oil tanker now in their custody, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In an interview with reporters, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the assurance was made by Iranian Ambassador to the Philippines Yousef Esmaeilzadeh over the weekend.
“He has assured us that the 18 Filipino seafarers are safe and sound,” said De Vega.
Iran seized the ship in the Gulf of Oman and is transferring it to an Iranian port in retaliation for the United States confiscating the same vessel and its oil last year, the Tasnim News Agency reported Thursday.
READ: 18 Pinoy seafarers onboard oil tanker seized by Iran safe, gov’t says
The DFA said its top priority now is for Philippine representatives to visit the Filipino seafarers.
“Everything is being done at the Iranian Foreign Ministry to facilitate the visit of Philippine officials to the location of the seafarers,” De Vega said.
Reports said the oil tanker, which was manned by 19 crew members, including 18 Filipinos and one Greek national, was en route to Turkey when the incident happened.
The US condemned the “unlawful” seizure, but Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations maintained in a statement to CNN that the act was a “lawful undertaking sanctioned by a court order and corresponds to the theft of Iran’s very own oil.”
The official said the seafarers were not “hostages” but were only affected because Iran seized the US oil tanker.
“They are safe, and they are asking for the names of the 18 and we are working with him and alam natin wala silang balak saktan ang ating mga kababayan [and we know they have no plans of hurting our countrymen],” said De Vega.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Middle East Affairs Mardomel Melicor is confident that the “cordial relations” between the Philippines and Iran will facilitate the speedy release of the seafarers.
“They are officially telling us that they are cooperating with us,” said Melicor.
There are over 1,100 Filipinos in Iran who are mostly married to Iranian nationals.
