8 Filipino seafarers of M/V Breadfan arrive home safe after drone strike near Russia

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 17, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

Eight Filipino seafarers of the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier M/V Breadfan arrived in Manila on August 16, 2026, aboard Turkish Airlines flight TK084 at NAIA Terminal 3. They were repatriated after their vessel was struck by a drone while approaching the Port of Novorossiysk, Russia, on August 7, 2026.

They were welcomed at the airport by Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers’ Welfare Services Maria Regina Angela G. Galias and OIC-Assistant Secretary for Sea-based OFW Concerns Augusto San Diego III of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), along with representatives of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). 

The returning overseas Filipino workers received airport and financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA, while medical teams from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) conducted initial health checks. Representatives of the crew’s deploying manning agency, Anglo-Eastern Crew Management Philippines, Inc., also met with the seafarers to provide additional assistance. 

The DMW and OWWA directed the manning agency to have the seafarers undergo the required physical and psychological checks and debriefing sessions, and to provide all applicable benefits and compensation due to them because of their repatriation.

“Masaya po kami na kayo ay aming nasundo at nakadaupang-palad ng buhay, ligtas, at matiwasay, hindi tulad ng iba nating mga kababayan na nasawi dahil sa mga sigalot sa ibang bansa,” said Assistant Secretary Galias.

(We are happy that we were able to fetch you, and that you crossed paths with life — safe and unharmed — unlike some of our other countrymen who died because of conflicts in other countries.)

One of the seafarers shared the lesson they learned from the incident: “Natutunan namin na mag-refuse to sail na po kaagad kapag aming nalaman na dadaan ang aming barko sa mga itinalagang high-risk at warlike areas.”

(We learned to refuse to sail right away once we find out our ship will pass through designated high-risk and warlike areas.)

“Kayo po ay may karapatan mag-refuse, huwag kayong matakot i-exercise ito. Nandito ang DMW para siguraduhin na itong karapatan ninyo ay naipapatupad. Dahil ito ang tagubilin ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa ating Kalihim Hans Leo Cacdac, na siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ang lahat ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), kasama ang ating mga seafarers,” said OIC-Assistant Secretary San Diego.

(You have the right to refuse — don’t be afraid to exercise it. The DMW is here to make sure this right of yours is upheld. This is the directive of our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to our Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac: to ensure the safety of all overseas Filipino workers, including our seafarers.)

Following the directive of President Marcos Jr., the DMW also reminded licensed manning agencies and their accredited principals to continue monitoring the status and condition of their deployed seafarers, follow required safety precautions, and ensure established protocols are followed for vessels with Filipino seafarers passing through the Black Sea.

The DMW noted that OFWs facing distress or crisis situations may check if they qualify for the AKSYON Fund by visiting or contacting the DMW Central Office or the nearest DMW regional office or Migrant Workers Office (MWO) at https://dmw.gov.ph/contact-us.