The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed the deaths of two Filipino seafarers in the most recent attack by Houthi rebels on ships plying the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
“We in the Department of Migrant Workers sincerely extend our deepest condolences to the family and kin of our slain, heroic seafarers. For reasons of privacy, we are withholding their names and identities,” it said in a statement.
“We are also informed that two other Filipino crewmen were severely injured in the attack on their ship. We pray for their immediate recovery,” it added.
On the direction of the President, the DMW said it is extending the fullest support and assistance to the families of our seafarers.
The DMW said it is in touch with the ship’s manning agency and shipowner to ascertain the conditions of the rest of the ship’s crew, particularly the remaining Filipino crew members, as we have been informed that they have been taken to a safe port.
The DMW also announed it has coordinated with the principal shipowner and manning agency to work on the repatriation of the remaining Filipino crew members.
“The DMW reiterates its call to shipowners with ships navigating the volatile Red Sea – Gulf of Aden sea lanes to comply strictly with the expanded “high risk areas” designation and to implement appropriate risk mitigation measures, such as rerouting vessels and deploying armed security personnel onboard such vessels.
The DMW also calls for continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and to address the causes of the current conflict in the Middle East.
