BBM seeking 17 seafarers’ safe release
Romualdez revealed the House of Representatives is working closely with the President to secure the turnover of the Filipino captives
Daily TribuneRomualdez revealed the House of Representatives is working closely with the President to secure the turnover of the Filipino captives
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is doing everything to secure the safe release of the 17 Filipino seafarers aboard a cargo
ship that Yemen's Houthi rebels hijacked in the Red Sea, Speaker Martin Romualdez said yesterday.
Romualdez revealed that the House of Representatives is working closely with the President to secure the turnover of the Filipino captives, and that the chamber fully supports the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs toward this end.
The Filipinos were among the 25 crew members of the Galaxy Leader, which was en route to India from Turkey when it was seized by the Iran-backed rebels, who used a helicopter and several speed boats to take control of the cargo ship.
The ship also has crew members from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Mexico and Romania.
The United States said it may again designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization after the seizure of the ship. Washington delisted it in February 2021.
A Japanese firm operates the Bahamas-flagged, British-owned Galaxy Leader but has links to Israeli businessman Abraham "Rami" Ungar.
The Houthis have threatened to target Israeli shipping over the Israel-Hamas war that was sparked by the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel.
The Houthis have declared themselves part of the "axis of resistance" of Iran's allies and proxies and have launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel.
With AFP