Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 28) — The Philippine government has no direct contact with the 17 Filipino seafarers taken hostage by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with officials relying on previous assurances that they won’t be harmed, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
“It is a problem that we are not able to be in touch with them because the Houthi rebels are not in touch with us either,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Tuesday.
“So we are just going by their assurances that they would not be harmed because they precisely want to give a message…to the international community that they are the legitimate government in Yemen,” he added.
The Filipino seafarers are part of the 25 crew members taken hostage by the Houthis on Nov. 19. De Vega earlier told CNN Philippines that they are safe.
The group, allegedly backed by Iran, hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea. It previously said it will attack all ships belonging to Israel. Israel has denied any connection to the vessel.
De Vega said the government is using its diplomatic contacts with other countries and international organizations to get the Filipino seafarers out.
He said while the information the DFA got last week was that the crew members will soon be released, officials “will see what else has to be done.”
“They (Houthis) certainly are not making any demands beyond the political demands so we’re still targeting the release by Christmas or much sooner,” De Vega said.
“If they are harmed, this will engender a reaction from the international community,” he added.
Families warned of scammers
De Vega also asked families of the 17 Filipino seafarers to tell the government if they are making efforts to contact the hostages.
The foreign affairs official said one of the Filipinos was able to contact his family but his cellphone was eventually confiscated by the rebels.
“We’re in touch with the family, because we are telling the family that if there are any attempts to contact them to inform the government as well because these may well be scammers,” he said.
