Marcos: Pinoy seafarers in Houthi-hit ship to be brought to Djibouti

Filipino seafarers on board the ship that was attacked by Houthi rebels on Wednesday will be transported to Djibouti as the government finds ways to send them back to the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

In a video message, Marcos said the Philippine government is working closely with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

“Sa ating mga kasama na Filipino seafarers na nakasakay nung MV Tutor na binomba at ngayon ay hindi malaman ang gagawin – lahat ng maaring gawin ay ginagawa na namin,” he said.

(We're doing everything we can to help the Filipino seafarers on board the bombed MV Tutor who are unsure of what to do.)

"Patuloy ang aming paghanap ng tulong sa ating mga kaibigan para madala na kayo sa Djibouti,” he said.

(We continue to seek assistance from our friends to transport you to Djibouti.)

????????????????????: Tiniyak ni Pang. Bongbong Marcos na may ginagawa na ang gobyerno para madala sa ligtas na lugar ang mga Pinoy seaman na sakay ng binombang barko sa Red Sea.

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— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 14, 2024

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 Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, condemned the attack and called on members of the United Nations ''to protect the human rights of seafarers.''

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. —VBL, GMA Integrated News