MANILA, April 8 -- The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday said it will provide legal assistance to 20 Filipino crew of M/V Lunita that was seized by South Korean authorities for carrying two tons of suspected cocaine.

"Within the next two days, we will have our own lawyers also to form part of the legal team sa ating mga tripulante (to our crew)," DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a television interview.

Cacdac said the assistance should be given while the investigation is ongoing on the Norwegian-flagged cargo vessel that was manned by Filipino crew when it was busted by the Korea Coast Guard and Korea Customs Service at the port of Okgye in Gangwon province on April 2.

Reports said the contraband was found at the ship...