The 17 Filipino seafarers still being held captive by the Houthis, the Yemeni terror group, were finally allowed to communicate with their families.

The Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs assured the hostages' families on Thursday that their loved ones were safe and that negotiations were underway for their release and repatriation.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said that while their release was certain, there was no assurance when this would happen.

"We can promise that they're okay, because they've been able to contact their families. The Houthis are adamant right now that it is not about money. They just want the Israeli operations in Gaza to end," De Vega said.

Not the first time

"We are concerned. This is not the first time that hostages have been taken like this. This is in connection with the war between Hamas and Israel because they targeted a ship that was said to be Israeli-owned, although the company that owns it is Japanese," De Vega said.

The Filipino seafarers were part of the 25-member crew of the Galaxy Leader transport ship taken hostage by the Houthis on 19 November. The Iran-backed terror group vowed to attack all vessels belonging to Israel.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promised on 30 November to exhaust all means to ensure the safe return of the Filipino seafarers.