Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro is warning Filipino sailors: Stay away from the Red Sea for now—it’s too dangerous!
Why? Because in just two days, two ships—MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity—were attacked and sunk by a rebel group called the Houthis, backed by Iran. Both ships had Filipino crew members on board.
🚨 What Happened to the Ships?
🔹 MV Magic Seas: All 17 Filipino crew members survived the attack.
🔹 MV Eternity: Out of 21 Filipinos, only 8 were rescued, including the Filipino captain.
🔸 But the fate of the other 13 crew remains unknown. There are reports that some may have been taken hostage by the rebels.
These attacks happened in the Red Sea, a busy water path where cargo ships travel between Asia and Europe.
🗣️ What Did DFA Say?
Secretary Lazaro said this during a press briefing:
“We encourage our Filipino sailors to avoid sailing in the Red Sea while the situation remains dangerous.”
She also said that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and other groups are working hard to find the missing sailors and help those who were rescued.
The DFA is also coordinating with Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and international maritime groups like the IMO and UKMTO to ensure Filipino sailors’ safety.
💔 Why Is This So Serious?
The Houthi rebels are attacking ships they think are connected to Israel, because of the ongoing war in Gaza. They promised to keep attacking until the war stops.
But many of the crew members on these ships, including Filipinos, have nothing to do with the conflict, and are just doing their jobs. Still, they’re being caught in the middle.
🇵🇭 Philippine Sailors Are All Over the World
Did you know? The Philippines provides more than 20% of the world’s seafarers! That’s over 240,000 Filipino sailors on ships like oil tankers, cargo vessels, luxury cruise ships, and passenger boats.
But that also means they are always at risk, especially when sailing in dangerous waters near Africa or war zones.
🛟 The DFA’s Promise
Secretary Lazaro says the Philippine government is doing everything it can to:
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Rescue the missing crew
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Protect all Filipino seafarers
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Fight for their rights and safety
“We will not stop until every Filipino sailor is safe,” Lazaro assured.
