President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has canceled his scheduled attendance at the 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai to focus on the ongoing hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Marcos said he would be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, to provide necessary assistance to the seafarers.

He has entrusted Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga to lead the COP28 delegation and articulate the country's statement on his behalf.

"I have made the difficult decision to cancel my attendance at COP28 to personally oversee the efforts to secure the safe release of our seafarers," President Marcos said.

"The safety and well-being of our citizens is my top priority, and I will not rest until they are safely back home," he added.

The 17 Filipino seafarers were taken hostage by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on 23 November. The rebels have threatened to kill the hostages if their demands are not met.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier this week has reassured the families of the 17 Filipino seafarers, who were kidnapped by Yemen's Houthi armed group in the Red Sea last week, that the agency is making every effort to ensure their safe return to the Philippines.