MANILA — The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs expressed optimism Tuesday about imminent progress in securing the release of nine Filipino crew members held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, citing assistance from Middle Eastern partner countries.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro told reporters that unnamed regional allies were actively supporting Manila’s appeals for the seafarers’ freedom.
“We are hopeful that we have had very good relations with many of these countries,” Lazaro said during a joint press briefing in Pasay City with visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. “I was just informed by the foreign minister concerned that something positive will come out in the coming days.”
Lazaro declined to elaborate on the ongoing negotiations, saying she could not divulge details of the discussions.
The nine Filipinos are among the crew of the MV Eternity C, a cargo ship that sank in the Red Sea in July after being struck by a Houthi drone attack. The vessel carried 22 crew members, 21 of them Filipino.
In the same briefing, Palestinian Foreign Minister Shahin pledged her country’s support.
“If Palestine can be of any help, anywhere, and in whatever capacities we have, we will not shy away from extending that help and support,” Shahin said. “So yes, if there’s anything that we can do, we will do it.”
The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group controlling much of northern Yemen, have detained the crew since the attack. The incident is part of a series of Houthi assaults on Red Sea shipping that the group says are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Earlier this year, the rebels released 17 other Filipino seafarers from the MV Galaxy Leader after holding them for more than 14 months. That release followed mediation by Oman and was tied to a temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, a condition set by the Houthis.
Philippine officials have made the safe return of the Eternity C crew a priority, highlighting the vulnerability of the country’s more than 400,000 seafarers who work on international vessels and remit billions of dollars annually to the Philippine economy.
