Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in a hijacked ship in the Red Sea were safe so far, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.
“It is the ship that was targeted. It just so happened there were Filipino crew there,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said.
“The good news is that we do know that our seafarers are fine and that the Houthi rebels are indicating consistently that they do not intend to harm them,” he told ANC.
Authorities have assured the families of the hostages that the government is “on top of the situation”, De Vega said.
Political Protest?
Israeli authorities over the weekend reported that a British-owned cargo ship operated by a Japanese company was seized in the Red Sea by the armed group.
The Nippon Yusen K.K., known as NYK Line, has a total of 25 people on board. The crew hails from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, Kyodo News reported.