In a heartfelt plea during a press conference held in Manila on June 6, 2025, the wives of three Filipino seafarers detained in Algeria have called for urgent assistance from the national government. These three men were apprehended alongside eight others in July 2023, following the shocking discovery of over 35 kilos of cocaine concealed aboard their vessel while it was docked at the Port of Algiers. The situation has escalated to a dire state for the families involved, as the drug-related charges against their husbands are nearing a final resolution this year.

The legal saga began when eight Filipino crew members were initially sentenced to a lengthy 20 years of imprisonment. However, after a rigorous legal battle led by lawyers from the Philippine government and their manning agency, five of these seafarers were exonerated following a favorable ruling from the Algerian Court of Appeals last year. Unfortunately, the remaining three seafarers saw their sentences reduced from 20 to 15 years, but their families remain adamant about their innocence regarding the drug allegations, claiming that the cocaine was surreptitiously loaded onto their ship by stevedores linked to drug syndicates.

As the case now progresses to the Supreme Court of Algeria, the wives are appealing directly to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for intervention. They hope that a government-to-government dialogue might lead to a favorable outcome, as the final verdict is expected later this year, possibly in September or October. "We are humbly asking for the help of the President to intervene through a government-to-government approach. They have been suffering for roughly two years now. One of them is suffering from diabetes. Please help them with this injustice because they are seafarers and not drug peddlers," one of the wives stated, her voice laden with emotion.

In addition to their public plea, the families have submitted a letter to the Philippine Embassy in Libya, where they articulated their struggles and the emotional toll this ordeal has taken on their lives. The letter emphasized, "We deeply understand that international legal and diplomatic processes take time, but our families are already suffering emotionally and mentally due to the prolonged uncertainty. Many of our children have grown up without their fathers, and our families continue to live in hardship and anxiety, not knowing when our loved ones will be able to return home." This sentiment underscores the harsh reality that these families face daily, as they grapple with the psychological strain of separation from their loved ones due to circumstances beyond their control.

The plight of these Filipino seafarers is not isolated. Earlier this year, another troubling incident occurred when 20 Filipinos were also detained by South Korean authorities after a cargo vessel—referred to as the MV M—was found to carry 50 boxes of suspected cocaine. Although 16 members of the crew were repatriated, four individuals, including the ship's captain, remain under investigation, adding to the growing concern about the safety and security of Filipino seafarers in international waters.