The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is working hard to find out if three Filipino sailors were killed during a scary attack on a ship called MV Eternity C in the Red Sea.
The ship was attacked last Monday by a rebel group called the Houthis. These rebels used sea drones and small boats (called skiffs) to go after the ship while it was sailing about 50 miles from Hodeidah Port in Yemen.
There were 22 crew members on the ship:
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21 were Filipinos,
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and 1 was Russian.
What Happened to the Filipinos?
Right now, the DMW says:
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8 Filipino crew members have been rescued and are now safe in a port. They will be sent back to the Philippines soon.
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13 Filipino sailors are still missing. No one knows exactly where they are.
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There are unconfirmed reports that 3 Filipinos may have died, but this is not yet 100% sure.
DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said during a forum in Quezon City that they believe the missing sailors may still be alive. He added that they are waiting to speak with the rescued Filipinos to get real and clear information about what happened.
Are the Missing Sailors Being Held?
There are rumors that the missing 13 Filipino sailors are being held captive by the rebels, but again, this has not yet been confirmed. The DMW is working closely with:
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the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA),
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and the Department of National Defense (DND)
to find the missing crew and bring them home safely.
Actions Taken by the Government
Because of what happened, the DMW has suspended the license of the company that hired the 21 Filipino crew members. This means that the agency is not allowed to send out Filipino seafarers until the case is solved and everything is checked.
Safety Reminders for Filipino Seafarers
The DMW also reminded ship owners and manning agencies that:
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They must tell Filipino seafarers if their ship is going through dangerous areas like the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden.
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Filipino sailors have the right to say no if they feel unsafe to sail.
Did you know? The Philippines is one of the top countries in the world that provides workers for ships. In fact, more than 20% of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers are Filipinos! They work on:
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oil tankers,
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luxury cruise ships,
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and passenger vessels around the world.
That’s why their safety is very important, and the government is now working hard to keep them protected from attacks, pirates, and kidnappings.
What’s Next?
The country is hoping and praying that the 13 missing sailors will be found alive and brought home soon. For now, search and rescue missions are still ongoing.
