PBBM prioritizes safety of 17 Filipino seafarers hostaged in Red Sea

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday evening assured the public that the safety of the 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea remains the government's top priority.

In a social media post, the President emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to secure the release of the seafarers, who were taken captive when their cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, was seized by the Houthi group in international waters off the coast of Yemen on November 19.

"The safety and well-being of our Filipino seafarers are of utmost concern," President Marcos declared. "We are closely monitoring the situation and are in constant communication with our diplomatic and military counterparts in the region to ensure their safe return."

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that it is coordinating with its counterparts in Iran, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to gather updates on the situation and explore potential avenues for securing the release of the hostages.

Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has established a dedicated hotline to provide assistance and support to the families of the affected seafarers. The DMW has also assured the families that they are regularly communicating with the authorities to keep them informed of the latest developments.

"Our seafarers are not alone," President Marcos affirmed. "The government is doing everything in our power to bring them safely home."

Yemeni rebels seized the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader and took hostage its 25 crewmembers, including 17 Filipinos, in retaliation for Israel's offensive in Gaza, the DFA said.

The Bahamas-flagged, British-owned Galaxy Leader, with links to Israeli businessman Abraham "Rami" Ungar, is operated by a Japanese firm.

In a statement, the DMW assured the families of the seafarers of the government's support and assistance.

The United States, which called for the immediate release of the ship and its crew, said it was considering designating Houthi rebels a terrorist organization following the Red Sea incident.