PH 'greatly distressed' by Houthi strike on ship that killed 2 Pinoys

MANILA – The Philippine government has expressed "great distress" over the Houthi rebels' attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Aden that killed two Filipino seafarers and seriously injured three others.

"The Philippine Government was greatly distressed and deeply concerned in having learned of the act that claimed the lives of two innocent Filipinos," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement Thursday. "The Philippines remains committed to achieving a long-lasting resolution to the conflict."

The Barbados-flagged MV True Confidence was carrying 20 crewmembers, including 15 Filipinos, when the Houthi's missile struck on Wednesday. A total of three were killed.

This is the group's first fatal strike since it began attacking commercial ships in response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said of the 13 remaining Filipinos, three are in the hospital due to serious injuries.

The survivors were rescued by the Indian Navy and were brought to Djibouti, the nearest port from their abandoned vessel.

"Our nearest embassy is in Cairo so we're asking them to go to Djibouti to provide them assistance so they can return home as soon as possible," de Vega told reporters in a separate interview.

In November, the Houthi also hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader and took hostage its 25 crewmembers, among them 17 Filipinos.

To date, the group remains captive to the Houthis, de Vega said.

"They are still there. They are able to contact their families but only through phone," he said.

"Of course, they're not in the best of situations because they're hostages. The problem is this will not be resolved by the Philippines alone," he added, noting the need for constant diplomacy to facilitate their immediate release.

He said the Houthi's demands are political and not monetary.

Meanwhile, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer in charge, Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, said the 10 Filipino crewmembers are now safe, secure, and accounted for.

Cacdac said he was able to talk with the group via a video call, after receiving confirmation from the ship's manning agency that the crewmembers are now staying in a hotel in Djibouti.

"We welcome the report that our seafarers are safe and secure, away from the dangers they faced yesterday. I had a video call with all 10 Filipino crewmembers in a Djibouti hotel and attest to their safety," he said on Thursday evening.

Cacdac clarified that three Filipinos – and not two as earlier reported – were injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, the DMW already met and informed the family of the two Filipino seafarers killed in the ballistic missile attack.

"We have expressed our deepest sympathies to the families and will provide all the assistance and support needed by the families of our fallen seafarers, as directed by the President," Cacdac said.

With the President's directive, Cacdac instructed the DMW's concerned regional offices and its attached agency, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), to reach out to the families and relatives of all the crewmembers.

The DMW is also coordinating with the DFA and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in the Middle East to personally meet with the crew, ascertain their physical and medical condition, and immediately provide necessary assistance.

The vessel's manning agency reported that the missile struck the vessel's fuel bunker, which exploded, forcing the crew to immediately evacuate the ship.

A passing Indian Navy vessel, which rescued them, is part of the international task force patrolling the Red Sea – Gulf of Aden sea lanes.

The ship's owners and manager earlier said the incident took place about 50 nautical miles southwest of Aden, while on its way from China to Jeddah and Aqaba, carrying a cargo of steel products and trucks.

The ship has 20 crewmembers – one Indian national, four Vietnamese, and 15 Filipinos; and three armed guards – two Sri Lankans and one Nepalese. (PNA)