Marcos cancels Dubai trip for COP28

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he will no longer attend the COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, scheduled on Friday, December 1.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Marcos said he has entrusted Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to lead the Philippine delegation to COP28 on his behalf.

Marcos cited "important developments" in the hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea as reason for his decision not to attend COP28.

"Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, with the aim of providing necessary assistance to our seafarers," he said.

Marcos was supposed to depart for Dubai on Thursday morning. 

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos refused to provide information about the situation of the 17 abducted seafarers when asked by reporters covering Marcos' supposed departure. 

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier said the government is coordinating with foreign governments to secure the release of the 17 seafarers, who are held hostage by the Yemeni rebel group Houthi. 

Marcos has instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to do everything to ensure the safety of the 17 seafarers.

The Houthis, an ally of Iran, have been launching long-range missile and drone salvoes toward Israel in solidarity with the Hamas militants fighting in the Gaza Strip. 

Israel said the Houthis had seized a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, describing the incident as an "Iranian act of terrorism" with consequences for international maritime security.

The Houthis said they had seized a ship in that area, but described it as Israeli. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News