Manila: Nine Filipino seafarers who had been stranded in Lebanon for months have finally returned to their families in the Philippines, while the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is preparing to repatriate 11 more crew members still awaiting their flights home.

According to Philippines News Agency, the seafarers, who were part of the crew of M/V Hawk III, remained unable to return home after their ship was detained in October 2025 and later caught in the escalating tension and armed conflict in the region. The Filipino seafarers remained stranded after the worsening security situation in the Middle East delayed their return to the Philippines.

The DMW said the nine crew members of the oil tanker arrived in the country last July 10 aboard Emirates Flight EK 332. They were welcomed by representatives of the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and their manning agency, who provided airport assistance and immediate support.

The DMW also assured the returning seafarers of post-arrival assistance and other services to help them recover from their months-long ordeal abroad. Meanwhile, the agency is awaiting confirmation of the flight details of the 11 more crew members who were affected by the same incident.

The DMW attributed the successful return of the nine seafarers to the coordinated efforts of the department, OWWA, Migrant Workers Office in Lebanon and the Philippine Embassy in Beirut. Under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DMW said it remains committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of OFWs and providing immediate assistance to those affected by conflicts and emergencies overseas.