Manila: The last three Filipino crew members of the Iran-seized MV Epaminondas finally returned to the country on Monday, completing the repatriation of all 10 Filipinos aboard the Liberia-flagged container vessel nearly three months after it was caught in a security incident in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Migrant Workers announced in a social media post that the three seafarers arrived aboard a Qatar Airways flight that landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The post emphasized that their safe return was facilitated through close coordination between the shipowner, the agency, and the DMW.

The returning crew members were warmly welcomed by their families, along with officials from the DMW, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), and representatives of their licensed manning agency. The DMW reported that financial and medical assistance was provided to the seafarers by both the DMW and OWWA, while temporary hotel accommodation was arranged by their agency.

The department further stated that the crew would undergo additional medical and psychosocial assessments to aid their recovery, well-being, and reintegration following their challenging experience. The three were the last Filipino crew members to receive clearance from Iranian military authorities to leave the vessel, with replacement crew members from Russia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine now taking over operations aboard the ship.

The MV Epaminondas was involved in a security incident on April 22 while attempting to exit the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Prior to this final repatriation, the first seven Filipino crew members of the Liberian-flagged vessel had been successfully repatriated in three separate batches in June.