PH working on release of 9 Filipinos held captive by Houthis—DFA

FILE: The Department of Foreign Affairs Building along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, which used to be the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank. (Photo By Lawrence Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0)

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Philippine government is exhausting all efforts to secure the release of nine Filipino crew members of the ill-fated MV Eternity C currently held captive by the Houthis, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said “all indications” are pointing that they are in Sanaa, inland Yemen “at hands of Houthis.”

“Our Honorary Consul in Yemen has been assured they are well. He is working to see them– We are working for their release, with the help of friendly governments,” he said in a text message.

The vessel was carrying 22 crew members, 21 of whom are Filipinos, when it was attacked by drones and rocket-propelled grenades launched by Iran-backed Houthi militants off the coast of Yemen.

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On July 16, eight of the Filipino crew were repatriated to the Philippines.

Earlier this year, the Houthis released 17 Filipino seafarers from another ship, the MV Galaxy Leader, after holding them hostage for at least 14 months. The release was made possible with the successful mediation efforts by the government of Oman following the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel – the condition required by the Houthi captors of the Galaxy Leader crew at that time.