BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Three seafarers — two from Bacolod and one from Murcia town — thanked former third district Cong. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for taking part in their rescue from Fiji Islands back to Bacolod.
The seafarers — Bacolod residents Edwin Ursula, 27 and Richard Amar, 25 and Murcia town resident Nick Avelino, 24 — they were rescued right after their video went viral on social media calling as they called for help against the mistreatment by their fishing vessel’s management.
They said they have worked 22 hours a day contrary to what was agreed in their contract stating they should work only eight hours a day.
Amar said they barely even get enough sleep and had to work early in the morning everyday.
The Zhongshui vessel owned by a Chinese consists of six Filipinos including the three of them.
They said that the Benitez brothers helped them with their fare expenses back to Bacolod.
These three seafarers claimed to have not received even a single cent from their work given that they have not finished their first month yet.
Ursula, Amar and Avelino also asked for help to get any job available just so they could start again.
