Five Filipino crew members return after Houthi attack

Inquirer archive photo

MANILA, Philippines — Five of the 27 Filipino crew members of the MV Transworld Navigator, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, arrived in the country on Sunday afternoon, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

“This is the first group of the 27 Filipino sailors who were on board the ship that was attacked by Houthi rebels last weekend while transiting the Gulf of Aden,” the DMW said.

The agency also said the five seafarers had received financial and other assistance from the national government.

READ: All 27 Filipino crew members of MV Transworld Navigator unharmed, says DMW

Migrant Chief Hans Leo Cacdac, Assistant Secretary for Overseas Filipino Sea Workers Affairs Jerome Pampolina and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Deputy Director Honey Quin̈o welcomed the seafarers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

One of the 27 Filipino crew members reportedly suffered a minor injury from broken glass in the ship. Before the incident, the Philippine government had banned Filipino sailors from boarding ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

According to Cacdac, the DMW requires crew agencies to provide a “letter of confirmation” or a written guarantee that cruise ships with Filipino crew members would not transit the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. —Faith Argosino