A photo taken on Monday, March 23, 2026, shows a destroyed building in a residential area after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran in Tehran. The International Seafarers Action Center (ISAC) has called on President Donald Trump to stop the war in Iran following the detention of 15 Filipino seafarers by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on April 22.
ISAC Demands Immediate Repatriation
“We are united in our call for the immediate repatriation of the affected seafarers and for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to enforce the agreement for their safe return,” ISAC President Atty. Edwin dela Cruz told SunStar Philippines on April 24. Dela Cruz urged Iranian forces not to harm the 15 sailors aboard two container ships intercepted near the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our second appeal is for the shipping company owners to temporarily stop their passage at the Strait of Hormuz. The lives of our Filipino seafarers are far more important than money,” said Dela Cruz, whose group has been at the forefront in advocating for the rights and welfare of seafarers. ISAC, a nongovernmental organization, provides legal aid, counseling, and education programs for maritime workers.
Dela Cruz also appealed to Trump to lift the blockade, citing civilian casualties in the region, according to a report from Catholic news site UCA News.
Government Assurance of Safety
Meanwhile, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the ships and sailors remain near Iran's coast. “We have been assured that all 15 seafarers are safe and unharmed. We remain in close coordination with their families, the manning agency, and ship owners, and continue to provide updates and support,” Cacdac said in a public statement on April 23. Cacdac said the government is prioritizing the seafarers' protection in line with Marcos' directive.
The interception follows similar vessel seizures in the region since late February amid rising tensions.
Repatriation Efforts
Malacañang earlier reported that 1,161 Filipino seafarers aboard 22 vessels and five cruise ships left the Persian Gulf safely between early April and April 18. Another 412 seafarers remain in the Gulf but are safe and have adequate supplies, Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro said April 23. To date, 7,144 Filipinos have been repatriated from the Middle East.
Filipinos make up more than 25% of the world's 1.5 million seafarers, the largest share of any nation. Overseas Filipino Workers are called the country's modern-day heroes for sustaining the economy through remittances.
