Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans J. Cacdac flew to Djibouti with the family of the Filipino crew of the MV Minervagracht, who died, after their ship was attacked while passing through the Gulf of Aden last month.
He made the announcement in a social media account last Wednesday after confirming the death of one of two hospitalized Filipino sailors of the Dutch-flagged cargo ship.
The DMW chief said he is accompanied by officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the shipowner for the repatriation of the remains of the said sailor. He did not identify the said sailor.
‘I am with @DMWPHL Asec Jerome Pampolina and the wife and sister of our dearly departed slain seafarer,’ Cacdac said.
In line with President Ferdinand Marcos’s directive, he said they provided the family of the deceased sailor with ‘full support and assistance.’
While in Djibouti, Cacdac said he will also check on the status of the other injured Filipino MV Minervagracht sailor, who is still recovering in a hospital.
On Tuesday, he confirmed the Filipino sailor died after being critically injured when MV Minervagracht was damaged by an explosive device on 29 September 2025. The ship has a multinational crew including a Russian, a Ukrainian, Sri Lankans, and 12 Filipinos.
They were rescued by an European Union maritime mission Aspides and then transported to Djibouti.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two of the 12 Filipino seafarers were hospitalized.
Citing updates from Cacdac, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the 10 other Filipino seafarers of MV Minervagracht already arrived home last Saturday.