ILOILO — Three Ilonggo seafarers who survived a Russian drone attack on their vessel in the Black Sea have finally returned home after appeals from their families and the intervention of the Iloilo provincial government and national agencies, ending weeks of uncertainty following the July 18, 2026 strike linked to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The seafarers — from the towns of Dingle and Miag-ao, and Barangay Ortiz in Iloilo City — arrived Wednesday morning, Aug. 5, at the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan town, where they were personally welcomed by Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager Dr. Cynthia Dario, representatives of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Region 6, and their families.
“Tama gid kita ka-happy tulad because ari na ang aton tatlo ka Ilonggo seafarers. Nakapauli ini sila sa labing madali nga panahon because nagbuloligay ang tanan,” Dario said.
She credited Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, OWWA, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and other concerned agencies for working together to facilitate the repatriation.
The repatriation came after the families sought help from the Iloilo Provincial PESO, complaining that the seafarers’ company had failed to immediately facilitate their return after their ship, M/V Inase, was struck during a drone attack in the Black Sea.
One of the repatriated crew members, Second Officer Ram Cerbo of Barangay Mat-y, Miag-ao, suffered burns and injuries to his hand and face after flying debris hit him during the explosion.
In a Facebook appeal posted on July 26, Cerbo urged authorities to help them disembark in Constanta, Romania, saying they feared crossing the Black Sea again after their principal allegedly refused their request.
“Pakitulong po kami na makababa na dito sa Constanta, Romania. Hanggang ngayon ayaw pa din kami pababain ng principal namin na Evalend Shipping Co. No action from the office. At gusto pa nila kami sumama ng Turkey para bumaba pero tatawid pa din ng Black Sea which is hindi namin alam ang assurance ng safety namin.”
Cerbo also said: “Kaya nagpumilit talaga kami sa opisina, and we have the right to disembarked due to severe trauma with the drone attack incident during transit in Odessa, Ukraine last July 18, 2026. One week na, hindi pa rin kami napapauwi. Nananawagan po kami sa lahat ng pwedeng tumulong.”
Cerbo’s wife, Nepthalie, recalled that her husband was on the bridge when he spotted the incoming drone moments before impact.
“Sia gid actually ang nakakita sang drone nagapakadto sa ila. Baskug impact. Ang igu sang drone ara sa cabin. Ang bridge ara sa babaw, pag-impact nagkalayo, naabtan ang iya kamot kag ang crystal nga nagkalabuka nag-igu sa iya nga talinga, face kag lapit sa mata ‘ya.”
Another relative, identified only as “Neb,” appealed for the immediate repatriation of his brother, the ship’s chief mate, citing the severe psychological trauma suffered by the crew.
“Mabuligan kontani ang akon tuod nga mapauli na kay samtang nagadugay didto naga-ano na ang trauma nila. Ti, kon magsakay pa sia, delikado man. Sa Black Sea man gihapon sila ma-agi.”
The Iloilo provincial government said it is prepared to provide financial assistance to the two repatriated seafarers from Iloilo province and extend psychosocial support to help them recover from the traumatic experience.
“First, gid ang psychosocial support if need nila because daw ara pa sila sa trauma stage,” Dario said.
The latest repatriation came amid growing concerns over the safety of Filipino seafarers navigating the Black Sea, following the recent death of Antiqueño seafarer Jude Prado Pagunsan, who was among two Filipino crew members killed when a Russian missile struck another commercial vessel off southern Ukraine./PN
