Pinoy seafarers held by Houthis safe: DMW

THE 17 Filipino crew members of a cargo vessel hijacked by Yemeni Houthi rebels in the Red Sea are unharmed, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said yesterday.

“As of now, we have information that, at this stage, they are safe and sound,” DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a radio interview.

“We hope that it stays that way, and that they’ll be able to come home safely,” he added.

The 17 Filipinos are part of the 25-man crew of the vessel Galaxy Leader which the Iran-backed Houthis believe is an Israeli ship. Israel has said the Galaxy Leader is a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.

The Houthi rebels, after seizing the ship last Sunday, said they will target all vessels owned or operated by Israeli companies, or those carrying the Israeli flag. The Houthis have been launching missile and drone salvoes at Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas militants fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Cacdac declined to give more information on the condition of the Filipino seafarers.

“We are leaving the coordination for their safe rescue to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” he said.

The DMW said it is taking care of the families of the Filipino seafarers.

“We are making sure that we are in constant communication with the families of the 17 seafarers and help them in whatever they need,” said Cacdac.

President Marcos Jr, on Wednesday night, said government is doing all it can to secure the release of the seafarers.

The President said the DFA is in coordination with its counterparts in Iran, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia for updates, while the DMW is in regular communication with the families of the hostages. – Gerard Naval and Jocelyn Montemayor