The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. just gave a very serious warning to all Filipinos working in the U.S.—especially those working on ships sailing in American waters. 🛳️
Why? Because more and more Filipino seafarers are being arrested for a very serious crime: child pornography.
👉 On July 19, the embassy released a strong message saying this crime is one of the worst kinds of abuse against children, and just watching, sharing, or keeping this kind of content helps the abuse continue. 😞
The embassy didn’t name anyone in their warning, but it came right after a U.S. news report from WAVY News said 18 Filipino workers from the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship were suddenly taken away in handcuffs at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia! 😱
The workers, who had valid 10-year visas, were told by U.S. officials they were being accused of having child pornography. But here’s where it gets more intense—some people say there was no clear proof yet, and they were not given proper legal rights before being taken.
⚖️ The Pilipino Workers Center in the U.S., led by executive director Aquilina Soriano Versoza, protested the arrest, saying the Filipino crew members were treated unfairly.
📢 The Philippine Embassy said if anyone believes they were wrongly accused, they have the right to fight back legally and should reach out to the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate for help and protection.
💬 They also warned all Filipinos in America:
“Don’t ever download, view, keep, share, or sell any child porn. It’s illegal and deeply harmful.”
🌍 Did you know? The Philippines is one of the biggest providers of ship workers in the world. More than 20% of all sailors across the globe are Filipinos working on oil tankers, cargo ships, cruise ships, and ferries.
But with this issue heating up in the U.S., Filipino seafarers are now under the spotlight—and need to be extra careful, because one wrong move, even by accident, can lead to arrest, jail, or deportation.
📞 If you or someone you know needs help, the embassy says: “Don’t stay quiet. Call us.”
This is not just about one ship or one country—this is about protecting innocent children, following laws, and making sure our fellow Filipinos are treated fairly wherever they work.
