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GMA Network
10 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Senate eyes policy review on Filipino seafarers' deployment to high-risk areas
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 missing as of July 10, 2025. HOUTHI MEDIA CENTER/Handout via REUTERS Senator Raffy Tulfo said Thursday that he will propose a hearing, in aid of legislation, to review and outline new policies and regulations on the deployment of Filipino seafarers to high-risk waters. Tulfo, chairman of the Senate committee on migrant workers, said this following reports that nine Filipino sailors are currently being held by Houthi rebels in Yemen. 'Kabilang sa mga tatalakayin ay kung dapat na bang magkaroon ng mandatory security assessment sa mga mapanganib na ruta, at kung kinakailangan nang magpatupad ng total deployment ban sa mga lugar na may mataas na banta sa buhay at kaligtasan ng ating mga seafarers,' the senator said in a statement. (Among the things that will be discussed is if there's a need to have a mandatory security assessment on dangerous routes, and if it is necessary to implement a total deployment ban in areas with a high threat to the lives and safety of our seafarers.) The Iran-backed Houthis earlier released footage of crew members who were missing after attacks on the cargo ships Eternity C and Magic Seas, claiming in an accompanying statement to have "rescued" the mariners. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega had confirmed that the Houthis were holding nine Filipino seafarers. According to Tulfo, he has asked Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac to ensure the Filipino seafarers' safety and their swift return to their families. 'Isang malaking bagay ang makumpirma nating buhay pa ang ating mga kababayang tripulante. Kaya't agad kong iminungkahi kay Sec. Cacdac na gawin ng DMW at mga kaukulang ahensya ang lahat ng kinakailangang hakbang upang matiyak ang kanilang kaligtasan at mapalaya sila sa lalong madaling panahon,' the senator said. (It's good to know that the Filipino crew members are still alive. I immediately suggested to Sec. Cacdac that the DMW and relevant agencies take all the necessary steps to ensure their safety and release as soon as possible.) In 2024, the DMW issued guidelines for licensed manning agencies to observe should Filipino seafarers be assigned on ships that would ply high-risk and conflict areas. The guidelines were released 'in the paramount interest of the continued safety and well-being of all Filipino seafarers on-board ships and in light of the increasing incidence of piracy, hijacking, and/or armed violence against ships passing through the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and surrounding areas/waters.' — RF, GMA Integrated News
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Greek ship manager 'relieved' to see Houthi video showing missing seafarers alive
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A vessel said to be Greek-operated, Liberia-flagged Eternity C sinks in a footage released by Yemen's Houthis, in the Red Sea, in this screen grab taken from a handout video released on July 9, 2025. HOUTHI MEDIA CENTER/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo ATHENS - The Greece-based manager of a vessel that sank after being attacked by Houthi militants off Yemen earlier this month expressed relief on Tuesday after seeing a video showing 11 missing crew members alive. The six-minute video was released by the Iran-aligned Houthis, who said on Monday they had rescued the seafarers from the Liberia-flagged Eternity C cargo ship. In a statement, the Athens-based ship management company said efforts were continuing to ensure the sailors' "safe and swift return home to their families". "Cosmoship Management is deeply relieved to see in video footage released by the Houthis on ... 28 July that ten of our missing crew members, as well as one of the vessel's security guards (11 in total), are alive and appear to be receiving care," it said. The Philippine government confirmed on Tuesday that nine of the rescued seafarers were Filipinos. Migrant workers minister Hans Cacdac said the sailors were in "good physical condition" based on accounts from their families, and that the government was working to secure their release and safe return. Cosmoship added that it hoped the Houthis "will release our crew at the earliest opportunity". The Eternity C was the second ship to sink off Yemen this month after repeated attacks by Houthi militants with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades. Another Greek-operated vessel, the Magic Seas, had gone down days earlier. The strikes on the two vessels marked a revival of attacks on shipping by the Houthis, who hit more than 100 ships between November 2023 and December 2024 in what they said was a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in the war in Gaza. Eternity C's crew and three armed guards were forced to abandon the ship following the attacks. Ten of them were rescued by a privately led mission, while five more are feared dead. On Monday, the Houthis released a six-minute video showing pictures of the missing seafarers, with some of them apparently talking to family members by phone. They also showed testimonies saying that the crew members were not aware of a maritime ban by Houthis against vessels sailing to Israeli ports. They said the vessel was heading to Israel's Eilat Port to load fertilizers. Reuters could not independently verify the footage. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Houthis say they hold 10 crew from Greek-operated ship they sank off Yemen
FILE PHOTO: A vessel said to be Greek-operated, Liberia-flagged Eternity C sinks in a footage released by Yemen's Houthis, in the Red Sea, in this screen grab taken from a handout video released on July 9, 2025. HOUTHI MEDIA CENTER/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo CAIRO/ATHENS - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they had rescued 10 seafarers from the Greek-operated cargo ship Eternity C which they attacked and sank in the Red Sea earlier this month. The Liberia-flagged Eternity C was the second ship to sink off Yemen this month after repeated attacks by Houthi militants with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades. Another Greek-operated vessel, the Magic Seas, had gone down days earlier. The strikes on the two vessels marked a revival of attacks on shipping by the Houthis, who have hit more than 100 ships between November 2023 and December 2024 in what they say is a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in the war in Gaza. The Eternity C crew and three armed guards were forced to abandon the ship following the attacks. Ten people were rescued by a privately led mission, while five more are feared dead mainly due to the attacks. Another 10 people were believed to be held by Houthis, maritime security sources had told Reuters. On Monday, the Houthis group released a six-minute video showing pictures of the 10 seafarers with some of them contacting their families. They also showed testimonies saying that the crew members were not aware of a maritime ban by Houthis against vessels sailing to Israeli ports. They said the vessel was heading to Israel's Eilat Port to load fertilizers. Reuters could not independently verify the footage. In what they called phase four of their military operations, the Houthis said on Sunday they would target any ships belonging to companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationalities. Following the recent attacks, Greece said it would deploy a salvage vessel in the Red Sea to assist in maritime accidents and protect seafarers and global shipping. REUTERS
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
Yemen's Huthis release footage of missing crew from sunken Eternity C ship
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 missing as of July 10, 2025. HOUTHI MEDIA CENTER/Handout via REUTERS/File photo SANAA, Yemen - Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis released video footage Monday of missing crew members from the Eternity C cargo ship, which the rebels sank earlier this month, claiming in an accompanying statement to have "rescued" the mariners. Earlier this month, the Huthis struck the Magic Seas and Eternity C cargo ships in the Red Sea, after a months-long hiatus in a campaign against maritime traffic they accuse of having links to Israel, launched over the Gaza war. The European Union's Operation Aspides naval task force told AFP that 15 out of the 25 crew were still missing -- with four of them presumed dead. In the video, the Huthis showed pictures of 10 crew members they said they had "rescued". "Eleven crew members were rescued at sea, including two injured who were provided with medical care. One body, found aboard the ship before it sank, was transported to the hospital morgue," the Huthis said in their statement. Last week, Human Rights Watch said the rebels were unlawfully detaining the crew and that their attacks on shipping amounted to war crimes. The United States has accused the Huthis of kidnapping the missing crew members. — Agence France-Presse
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Yemen's Houthis threaten to target ships linked to firms dealing with Israeli ports
A view shows the sinking of what is said to be the Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier, MV Magic Seas that was, according to Yemen's Houthis, attacked following an alleged exchange with the captain, off southwest Yemen, in this screen grab taken from a handout video released on July 8, 2025. HOUTHI MEDIA CENTER/Handout via REUTERS/File Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday they would target any ships belonging to companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationalities, as part of what they called the fourth phase of their military operations against Israel. In a televised statement, the Houthis' military spokesperson warned that ships would be attacked if companies ignored their warnings, regardless of their destination. "The Yemeni Armed Forces call on all countries, if they want to avoid this escalation, to pressure the enemy to halt its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip," he added. Since Israel's war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking ships they deem as bound or linked to Israel in what they say are acts of solidarity with Palestinians. In May, the US announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel. —Reuters
