Families of 3 seafarers in Algerian prison seek Marcos’ help

Families of 3 seafarers in Algerian prison seek Marcos’ help
April 19, 2026 https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/04/19/business/maritime/families-of-3-s...

​THE families of three Filipino seafarers currently languishing in an Algerian prison have issued a second, more desperate plea to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for urgent diplomatic intervention. The crew members—a Chief Officer, a Bosun, and an Ordinary Seaman—remain held at the El Berrouaghia Prison following a 2023 drug bust on the vessel CV Harris, despite maintaining their innocence and having no evidence linking them to the crime.

​The ordeal began on July 28, 2023, when Algerian authorities discovered 35.8 kilograms of cocaine on the ship’s deck, an area accessible to shore personnel. While five other Filipino crew members were eventually released and repatriated, these three were sentenced to 15 years. This term was recently shortened to 10 years during a hearing in February 2026. However, the families and their manning agency, Eastern Mediterranean, argue that even a reduced sentence is a grave injustice for men who were simply performing their duties.

​During a press conference on April 18, the wives of the detainees, speaking under aliases for their safety, broke down as they described the emotional toll of the prolonged detention. They highlighted significant gaps in the legal process, noting that the ship’s European captain was never charged despite holding command responsibility. The families expressed that while they are grateful for the support of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the situation has reached a critical stage where only a "government-to-government" appeal can ensure a fair outcome during the final Supreme Court trial this October.

​The case has become a focal point for the "criminalization" of seafarers—a global trend where maritime workers are held liable for illegal activities on their vessels without proof of involvement. Eastern Mediterranean, which employs over 3,000 Filipinos, reaffirmed its belief in the crew’s innocence, citing their clean records and the lack of proof connecting them to any criminal syndicate. As the final appeal looms, the maritime community and the families of the "CV Harris 3" are looking to the President to champion their rights and bring them home.