THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Monday that the Ereğli Criminal Court in Türkiye (Turkey) has acquitted six Filipino seafarers charged with drug trafficking.
In October 2023, the six Filipinos together with four senior officers onboard the Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel Phoenician M were arrested for drug trafficking while the ship was docked at the Ereğli Port in Zonguldak, located in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
“We are delighted that the Court declared the Filipinos innocent of the charges and that they have been released in time to spend Christmas with their families back home,” said Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Henry Bensurto Jr.
The Philippine Embassy in Ankara facilitated the repatriation of the Filipino seafarers acquitted of drug trafficking charges. They spent more than 11 months in detention before they were declared innocent.
Upon the instructions of DFA Undersecretary for Migration Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega to extend assistance for the repatriation of the six Filipinos, the Embassy team led by Ambassador Bensurto Jr. and the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul, led by Consul General Shirlene Mananquil, arrived at the Istanbul Airport to ensure that the six expatriates were in good condition and able to board their flight back to the Philippines.
The embassy regularly visited the seafarers while they were detained. The embassy also regularly updated the family members of the seafarers during this ordeal.
De Vega visited the seafarers in the penitentiary to check on their welfare. He also met with his counterpart from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the penitentiary authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the detained Filipinos.
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