Filipino sailors held in Korea after drugs found in ship

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac —Photo by RTVM via the official Facebook page of the Department of Migrant Workers

MANILA, Philippines — The government will provide legal assistance to the Filipino seafarers onboard the cargo vessel that was found to be carrying two tons of suspected cocaine in South Korea, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac reported on Tuesday that there were 20 Filipinos, including the ship captain, on MV Lunita.

It docked in Okgye, South Korea, on April 4. The drugs were found by local authorities during an inspection.

According to reports, over 50 boxes of suspected cocaine were found hidden in a compartment within the engine room. The ship had traveled from Mexico to Ecuador, Panama and China before reaching Seoul.

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While it has yet to determine if the Filipinos were involved in the smuggling of drugs, the DMW, which said it has started coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and South Korean authorities on the matter, will provide them with a lawyer.

Cacdac said the ship’s company, JJ Ugland Companies, has already sent a lawyer to the Filipino crew.

“This is already included in the investigation—who may be involved, if any of the crew members are included, what the details are, where they were or their locations, and the involvement of each crew member on board,” he said in an interview with GMA’s Unang Balita.

“But as of now, of course, they are entitled to their defense, to be presumed innocent. We are providing the necessary legal counsel in tandem with the one provided by the ship owner,” Cacdac added.