Ten Filipino seafarers have been safely repatriated after they exercised the right to refuse to sail through the Strait of Hormuz.      The 10 seafarers from the Liberian-flagged general cargo ship Dema M arrived back in Manila on 4 September. The government of the Philippines recognises the right of its seafarers to refuse to sail through high-risk areas.         The Dema M passed through the Strait of Hormuz sometime in early September. AIS tracking from Pole Star Global showed the Dema M in port in Kuwait on 28 August before it went dark reappearing on tracking on 6 September on the boarder of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea having crossed the Strait of Hormuz.      The 10 crew members were met at the airport by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Assistant Secretary Venecio V. Legaspi who said, "We are here to show the DMW and our Secretary the support we have for your decision.”      Two Filipino seafarers died in the attack on the Bahri VLCC Sidr on 31 August and following the attack the DMW reiterated to shipowners and crewing agencies of Filipino seafarers right to refuse to sail into high-risk areas including the Strait of Hormuz.      Another 14 Filipino seafarers on board the Sidr survived the attack and were staying in a hotel in Khasab, Musandam in Oman until repatriation could be arranged.      

“Our immediate priority is to ensure that our seafarers are safe, cared for, and brought home to their families. No Filipino seafarer should have to face a crisis overseas alone,” said DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac.