The Department of Foreign Affairs said that four Filipino seafarers were brought home from Venezuela after being detained for alleged oil smuggling.
“We are happy to reunite with their families this group of seafarers from Venezuela. The Department will never tire to do what is needed to be done to provide assistance to our OFWs abroad, be it welfare assistance or legal assistance or both such as for this case. Our commitment will continue to endure,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola said in a statement.
The four Filipinos were arrested in Caracas, Venezuela were arrested and detained due to alleged smuggling of diesel fuel and their affiliation.
They were detained for three years beyond the maximum penalty imposed by Venezuela law for oil smuggling. The first hearing took place last March.
“The Fourth Trial Court, Criminal Judicial Circuit, Anzoátegui State found the accused not guilty on 30 August 2019,” the DFA said in a statement.
The Philippine Embassy in Brazil and Philippine Consulate General in Caracas have been consistently providing legal assistance to Pinoys after their arrest.
The DFA said that the government shouldered the cost of repatriation through the utilization of Assistance-to-Nationals Fund.
