13 stranded Filipino seafarers in China return to PH enablePagination: false endIndex: Thirteen Filipino seafarers who have been stuck on a ship in China's waters for 18 months were flown back to the Philippines on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. (FILE PHOTO) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) — Thirteen Filipino seafarers who have been stuck on a ship in China's waters for 18 months were flown back to the Philippines on Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The Filipinos returned Thursday morning on a flight from Ghuangzhou, a month after they appealed for help. The crew told CNN Philippines that they have been stranded since January 2020 due to China's strict health protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a court case involving their ship's owner. Their vessel MV Angelic Power was earlier seized by the court, according to the DFA while one of the seafarers said their passports were also taken.