DFA condemns attack on vessel with Pinoy seafarers in Red Sea

The Philippines on Friday condemned the attack on a vessel in the Red Sea that has Filipino seafarers on it.

"The Philippine government will take all necessary measures to secure the safety and well-being of the Filipino crew on board and ensure justice," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

The DFA statement did not state how many Filipinos were on board the attacked vessel MV Tutor but said the incident happened on June 12.

"We call on all UN (United Nations) member states to protect the human rights of seafarers," the DFA said.

It added that the Philippine government remains steadfast in ensuring the safety and welfare of all Filipino seafarers worldwide.

Yemen's pro-Iranian Houthi group on Wednesday took responsibility for small watercraft and missile attacks that left a Greek-owned cargo ship taking on water and in need of rescue near Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah, according to a Reuters report.

A report on the Italian new site Agenzia Nova said MV Tutor is a Greek-owned and operated Liberian-flagged vessel. 

The Houthis have attacked international shipping in the Red Sea region since November in solidarity with the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas. They have sunk one ship, seized another vessel, and killed three seafarers in another attack. 

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in April prohibited the deployment of Filipino seafarers on passenger and cruise ships that are set to traverse the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. 

Department Order No. 2 signed by DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac states that all Filipino seafarers to be employed for passenger and cruise vessels shall not be allowed to sail in the two bodies of water that were recently included in the list of high-risk areas and war-like zones. 

Under the DO, licensed manning agencies (LMAs) are required to sign an affirmation letter guaranteeing that the ship that will be boarded by the Filipino seafarers will not navigate the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden. 

Filipino seafarers listed as crew members must likewise sign an affirmation letter acknowledging that their vessel will not enter the two areas. 

This letter, along with the vessel’s detailed itinerary, must be submitted to the DMW during the documentation of crew employment contracts or before their deployment. It will be uploaded to the DMW’s Online Processing System for Sea-based, along with the processed Standard Employment Contract. —KBK, GMA Integrated News