Latest news with #BernardOlalia
Yemen Online
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
11 Filipino Seafarers Return Home After Surviving Houthi Attack Off Yemen's Coast
Aden – The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers announced late Saturday the safe return of 11 Filipino crew members from the Magic Seas cargo ship, which was violently attacked by Houthi militants while sailing near the Yemeni coast. Undersecretary Bernard Olalia stated during a press forum in Quezon City that the sailors arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 11 PM, completing the repatriation of all 17 rescued crew members from the targeted vessel. 'These men endured a traumatic and tragic ordeal that demands immediate care,' Olalia said, adding that the Philippine government will extend psychological and social support, alongside financial assistance and medical evaluations. The announcement comes as search operations continue for 13 missing sailors from the Eternity Seas vessel, which sank entirely following a similar Houthi attack in the Red Sea. The Magic Seas incident marked one of the earliest ship assaults in a wave of escalating maritime strikes linked to the war in Gaza. Houthi Militians claims these attacks are retaliation against alleged support for Israel, though international observers have condemned the operations as "reckless and criminal," warning of serious threats to global maritime security.
The Star
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
11 Filipino seafarers in ill-fated MV Magic Seas to return to Philippines Saturday (July 12) — Department of Migrant Workers
Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia updates members of media on the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City on July 12, 2025. Olalia said the rest of the Filipino crew members of the ill-fated MV Magic Seas are scheduled to return to the Philippines on Saturday. - Photo from Philippine News Agency MANILA: The remaining 11 of the 17 rescued Filipino seafarers from the MV Magic Seas that was recently attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea are set to return to the Philippines on Saturday (July 12) evening, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). In a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the flight of the remaining 11 seafarers to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport will be at 11pm. 'There are 11 of them. They will be the ones who will make up the 17 who came from the MV Magic Seas, the first ship where everyone was safe and we rescued them,' Olalia said. It was on Friday when the first six Filipino crew members of the ill-fated MV Magic Seas returned to the Philippines. According to Olalia, the government will also provide assistance to the arriving Filipino seafarers in terms of psychosocial services and financial aid. 'First of all, they have gone through very tragic and traumatic experiences. That's why it's necessary that they have psycho-social services when they arrive.,' the DMW undersecretary said in the Saturday news forum. Olalia said that the agency will conduct a medical investigation to identify whether the seafarers need to be referred to medical facilities. 'Apart from that, there is also financial assistance and various other assistance from all relevant government agencies,' he added. Meanwhile, the government's search and rescue operations continue for the remaining 13 still unaccounted crew members aboard the sunken MV Eternity C in Yemen. Earlier, the DMW announced that Houthi rebels aboard small boats attacked two ships — MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C — manned by Filipino seafarers sailing through the Red Sea near Yemen. The attacks were the latest to be carried out by the Houthi rebels, who had been targeting vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, since the conflict between Israel and Hamas started to break out in 2023. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
GMA Network
12-07-2025
- GMA Network
DMW confirming if 3 Pinoys killed in MV Eternity C attack
A vessel said to be Greek-operated, Liberia-flagged MV Eternity C sinks in a video footage released by Yemen's Houthis, in the Red Sea, in this screen grab taken from a handout video released on July 9, 2025. The vessel had 21 Filipino crew members, more than half of whom remain unaccounted as of July 11, 2025. HOUTHI MEDIA CENTER/Handout via REUTERS The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is still verifying reports that three of the 21 Filipino crew members of MV Eternity C were killed in the attack by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. At a news forum in Quezon City, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia on Saturday said search and rescue operations for the remaining 13 Filipino seafarers are ongoing, in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of National Defense (DND). "Malakas ang ating paniniwala na sila ay buhay pa… (Our belief is strong that they are still alive)," Olalia said. "Mayroon tayong unconfirmed reports. Aalamin natin ito sa mga kababayan natin na na-rescue… sa oras na makausap natin sila. Tatlo ang sinasabi sa news na may kababayan tayong namatay sa MV Eternity C," he said. (We have unconfirmed reports. We will verify this with our countrymen who were rescued... once we get in touch with them. News reports have said some of our countrymen at the MV Eternity C have died.) The DFA said last Wednesday that two Filipino seafarers aboard MV Eternity C were "most likely" killed. Olalia reiterated that the other 13 Filipino sailors remain unaccounted. He said the DMW is still verifying reports that the unaccounted Filipino sailors are being held captive by the Houthis. Meanwhile, the eight rescued Filipino crew members are now in a "safe port" for their "eventual facilitated repatriation." The DMW has suspended the license of the principal and manning agency of the 21 Filipino seafarers aboard the ill-fated ship. Eternity C had 22 crew members on board, comprising of 21 Filipinos and one Russian. Reuters had reported that three guards were also on the vessel during the incident. It was attacked Monday with sea drones and skiffs 50 nautical miles southwest of the port of Hodeidah in Yemen. In an order issued in March 2024, the DMW mandated shipowners and manning agencies to report planned passages through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and ensure that Filipino crew are informed of the risks. Olalia reminded Filipino seafarers of their right to refuse to sail. The Philippines is one of the world's largest providers of shipping manpower. A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20% of the world's 1.2 million sailors man oil tankers, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to attacks, piracy and ransom kidnappings. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
12-07-2025
- General
- GMA Network
DMW: 11 rescued Magic Seas crew members to arrive in PH on Saturday night
The remaining 11 of the 17 Filipino crew members of the ill-fated MV Magic Seas, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, will arrive in the country on Saturday night, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). At the Saturday News Forum, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the 11 arriving crew members will 'complete the 17 rescued Filipino seafarers.' On Friday night, the first six Filipino crews of MV Magic Seas returned to the Philippines. The ship's chief officer, 2nd officer, and 3rd officer arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, while the rest landed at Clark International Airport. Meanwhile, the 11 remaining seafarers will arrive at NAIA, according to Olalia. The DMW official said the arriving seafarers will receive assistance from the government. The first six seafarers who returned to the country received financial assistance worth P75,000 each from DMW's AKSYON Fund and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration's Emergency Repatriation Fund and P10,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. They were also given hotel accommodation and transportation assistance to ensure their safe return to their families and communities. DMW earlier reported that the Filipino seafarers, along with two other crew members, escaped the Liberian-flagged vessel they were boarding, which was under attack by alleged Houthi rebels last Saturday. Magic Seas was about 51 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen, when it was attacked by men carrying rocket-propelled grenades and automatic firearms. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
DMW shuts down Manila-based recruitment agency and travel consultancy over illegal hiring for Poland
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down two firms in Manila—Reiven Air Travel Tours & Consultancy and Reliable Recruitment Corporation—for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment of Filipinos for jobs in Poland. Reiven Air, a non-DMW licensed travel consultancy, partnered with Reliable, a licensed recruitment agency with no job orders for Poland. Their tie-up allegedly created the false impression of a legal recruitment operation. DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, who led the operation, explained that the scheme—known as the 'kabit system'—involves unlicensed firms using licensed agencies as fronts. Applicants were lured with promises of jobs like fruit pickers and factory workers, with salaries of up to ₱90,000, in exchange for a ₱70,000 one-time, non-refundable fee. The closure operation, done in coordination with the Manila Police District, also led to the arrest of suspected recruiters. Both firms will face legal consequences, including the revocation of Reliable's license and inclusion of staff in the DMW's Derogatory List, barring them from future recruitment activities. This marks the 16th closure by DMW this year under the directive of President Marcos Jr., who called for stronger action against illegal recruitment to protect OFWs.
