The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday that the remains of the six Filipino seafarers onboard a Greek vessel that caught fire on Christmas Day off the coast of Venezuela has arrived in the country.

The DFA said that the remains of Filipino seamen ---- Bonifacio Vallescas, Reo Arias, Danilo Esparagoza, Noel Lagamon, Bryan Pragamac, and Jerry Espanola ---- arrived in Manila at 6:45 p.m. Saturday via a chartered Boeing DC 8 flight.

The respective families of the Filipino seafarers were at the airport to receive the remains. Also at the airport were DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Executive Director Enrico Fos, and other officials of the DFA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Aside from the six Filipino seamen, three Greek sailors also died when Greek vessel MV Aegean caught fire off the coast of Venezuela.