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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA continues to work for the return home of Pinoy hostages in Red Sea

DFA continues to work for the return home of Pinoy hostages in Red Sea

Published Mar 27, 2024 06:16 am

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, March 27, assured the families of the 17 Filipino seafarers held captive by the Yemeni rebel group Houthi in the Red Sea that the government is doing all it can to bring them home.
 

Houthi_Red Sea.jpgA grab from handout footage released by Yemen's Ansarullah Media Centre on Nov. 19, 2023, reportedly shows members of the rebel group during the capture of an Israel-linked cargo vessel at an undefined location in the Red Sea. (AFP / Ansarullah Media Centre)

 

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo shared that the Philippines is working together with various partners in the international community for the resolution of the issue.
 

“The Philippines continues to work with our friends and partners, including through the UN (United Nations) system, to address the situation in the Red Sea involving 17 Filipino seafarers,” he wrote.
 

“We assure their families that all is being done so that the seafarers will finally be able to return home,” the DFA chief added.
 

In November 2023, 17 Filipino seafarers were taken by the Houthi rebels of Yemen after their Galaxy Leader cargo ship was seized in the Red Sea amid the height of the Israel-Hamas war.
 

The total number of hostages taken was 25, composing of different nationalities, such as Ukrainians, Bulgarians, and Mexicans.
 

The Houthi group earlier said it was on the lookout for Israeli vessels in the commercially vital waters of the Red Sea as the group also launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since October.
 

Houthi is an ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas.
 

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship was supposedly targeted because it was believed to be Israeli-owned even though the operator was a Japanese company.

Related Tags

Red Sea Enrique Manalo Filipino seafarers Houthi rebels Galaxy Leader
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