Eight of the 21 Filipino crew members of MV Eternity C, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, arrived safely at the NAIA Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 16.

Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Secretary Teodoro Herbosa of the Department of Health (DOH), Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and other government officials welcomed the seafarers.

Prior to their safe return, the seafarers were provided with immediate assistance and support from the coordinated efforts of the MWO-OWWA Team and Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia.

All of them will also receive financial assistance through the DMW’s AKSYON Fund, OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Fund, and DSWD; medical care from DOH; NNIC under the DOTR; and comprehensive reintegration support from TESDA and other members of the National Reintegration Network for their smooth transition and for their productive and sustainable reintegration back with their families.

13 still missing

DMW Secretary Cacdac stated that the government is in constant communication with the families of the 13 missing seafarers. He continued, “Rest assured we are monitoring the situation and carefully accounting for the 13.”

Despite previous reports in the international media that there were three, four or five casualties, Cacdac emphasized that they will not be so hasty to conclude and are working closely with the DFA to validate the information.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO), the Houthis attacked the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity Sea, managed by a Greek corporation, with several rocket-propelled grenades from small craft in Al Hudaydah, Yemen, for days. UKMTO reported that the ship sank on Wednesday morning, July 9. 

The Iran-backed group Houthis, claimed responsibility for the incident, claiming that they targeted the Eternity C with “an unmanned boat and six cruise and ballistic missiles” as it purportedly approached the Israeli port of Eilat. They stated that the ship was "completely sunk" and that their forces had rescued several crew members, providing medical attention before transporting them to a secret destination.