Nine Pinoy seafarers held by Houthis to be released – DFA

Metro Manila, Philippines – The nine Filipino seafarers held hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen will be released and transferred to Oman, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The DFA said it received information from the Sultanate of Oman but did not reveal when the nine Filipino crew members of the ill-fated MV Eternity C will be transferred from Sana’a, Yemen to Muscat, Oman.

“The release was the outcome of efforts of Oman, in cooperation with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs,” the department said in a statement, expressing its “sincerest appreciation” to the sultanate.

It said Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro discussed the matter with Omani Foreign Minister Sayed Badr bin Hamad El-Busaidi during a bilateral meeting in July and in a phone call in November.

“The Philippine Embassy in Muscat and the Migrant Workers Office-Muscat will make arrangements for the safe and immediate return of the Filipinos to the Philippines,” the DFA said.

Three Filipino sailors died after Houthi rebels attacked the Liberia-flagged Eternity C with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades in the Red Sea in July. 

Eight Filipinos were rescued and were repatriated to the Philippines.

The attack on the ship came after the Houthi militants attacked the MV Magic Seas, a Liberian-flagged and Greek-operated vessel, in the Red Sea. Seventeen Filipino crew members of the bulk carrier have returned to the country.

Houthis, who are Iran-aligned fighters, had carried out attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since 2023 to show what they said was solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war.