3 severely injured Filipinos in Houthi missile attack now in stable condition — DMW

Three Filipinos are in stable condition after being severely injured in the missile attack by the Houthi rebel group against their merchant ship plying the Gulf of Aden, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Friday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, DMW chief Hans Leo Cacdac said the Indian captain reported about their condition to the department after a visit to the wounded Filipinos.

"'Yung Indianong kapitan, dinalaw 'yung tatlong sugatan at inulat din niya na in stable condition iyong tatlong sugatan. Bagamat malubha ang sitwasyon nila ay at least stable na sila and on the healing process na," he said.

(The Indian captain visited the three wounded and reported that they are in stable condition. Although their [health] situation is serious, at least they are stable and on the healing process.)

Cacdac said the release of the wounded Filipinos from a Djibouti hospital would depend on the advice of their doctors.

"'Yung tatlong sugatan sa Djibouti hospital, depende po 'yan sa medical experts, mga doctors doon. Puwede na silang ilikas, if they are fit to travel or if they can already be medically repatriated," he added.

(The release of the three wounded from the Djibouti hospital depends on the medical experts and doctors there. They can be evacuated if they are fit to travel or if they can already be medically repatriated.)

The US Central Command said the Houthis attacked Greek-owned and Barbados-flagged ship True Confidence on Wednesday, killing three seafarers onboard including two Filipinos, Reuters reported.

The DMW assured that full support and assistance will be provided to the families of affected seafarers.

"We in the Department of Migrant Workers sincerely extend our deepest condolences to the family and kin of our slain, heroic seafarers. For reasons of privacy, we are withholding their names and identities," it said.

There were 20 crew and three armed guards on the ship, composed of 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, two Sri Lankans, an Indian and a Nepali national, according to the operators. Reuters earlier reported that India's navy has evacuated all 20 crew from the True Confidence.

The Houthis have launched a campaign of attacks on vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes since November in solidarity with the Palestinians during Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. — VDV, GMA Integrated News