17 December 2004 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco today reported to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that the 11 Filipino seamen who were rescued from their sunken cargo ship in the freezing Alaskan waters last week will be returning to Manila in separate flights tomorrow, 18 December 2004, to be reunited with their families in time for the Christmas holidays.

Consular General Marian Rowena Mendoza Sanchez informed Secretary Romulo that the following Filipino seafarers will be returning tomorrow aboard their respective flights:

     PR 107, ETA Manila - 5:40 a.m.
 
            1. Mr. Evanie Maravilla;
            2. Mr. Wilfredo Alvarez;
            3. Mr. JR Briones;
            4. Mr. Jimmy Villariasa;
            5. Mr. Allan Tanalgo;

    PR 113, ETA Manila – 4:40 a.m.

            6. Mr. Vicente Vieja;
            7. Mr. Leo Alimbo;  

    PR 103, ETA Manila – 6:30 a.m.
 
            8. Mr. Francis Alian
            9. Mr. Richard Bacal

(Flight details not yet available but scheduled to arrive Saturday)

            10. Mr. Russell Luis; and
            11. Mr. Juan Franco.

Consul General Sanchez said the Consulate sent Mr. Edmundo Mangubat, Assistance to National Officer, to Dutch Harbor in Alaska where he accompanied the 11 rescued Filipino seafarers for the flight to San Francisco via Anchorage City.   The 11 OFWs arrived in San Francisco on 15 December 2004 where they took their connecting flights to Manila via Philippine Airlines on the same day.

Consul General Sanchez also informed Secretary Romulo that the IMC Pan Asian Alliance (Pte) Ltd. of Singapore, owner of the cargo ship “M/V Selendang Ayu” that sunk in Alaska,  assured that:

        - the benefits/salaries and claims of the 11 survivors will be honored by the company in accordance with the provisions of their individual contracts of employment as authenticated by the POEA;
        -   the crewing agent in the Philippines, Great Southern Maritime Services Corporation, was instructed to re-hire the 11 seafarers with top priority, if they are still willing to work with the shipping company;
        - all the crew will be given pocket money of US$500 each before their departure for Manila, which will not be deducted from their salaries, claims and benefits; and
        - the crew will receive whatever is due them.

In the meantime, Capt. Morrison Morris, the over-all coordinator of the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Team in Dutch Habor, Alaska informed Mr. Mangubat that the Coast Guard is still searching for the missing Filipino seaman, identified as Mr. Carlos Santiago.   Capt. Morris said that they have not found any of the bodies of the 6 missing crewmembers of the ill-fated freighter including Filipino seaman Santiago.   Under the circumstances, Capt. Morris said that the U.S. Coast Guard considers them missing but “presumed” dead since there is very little chance for them to survive in the freezing waters.

IMC Pan Asian Alliance (Pte) Ltd. assured Consul General Sanchez that the benefits, salaries and claims of Mr. Santiago will be given to his next of kin.

The Department has informed the families of the 11 Filipino seafarers of their arrival tomorrow and the next of kin of Mr. Santiago of the search being undertaken by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Alaskan waters.  END

/jay