Philippines confirms Filipino crew on board ship attacked in Red Sea

MANILA – The Philippines said Friday that Filipino sailors were among the crew of a merchant ship attacked by Houthi militias in the Red Sea on June 12.

“The Philippine government will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the Filipino crew on board and to ensure justice. We call on all UN member states to protect the human rights of the seafarers,” the Philippine Foreign Ministry said.

The DFA did not disclose how many Filipinos were on board, but sources at Xinhua said there were more than 20 Filipino crew members working on board.

On Wednesday, Yemeni Houthi fighters carried out a boat-based bomb attack on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier MV Tutor in the Red Sea.

Filipino sailors have been killed or kidnapped in Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Some of those kidnapped are still being held by the rebels.

In April, the Philippines banned the use of Filipino sailors on passenger and cruise ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, saying it was too dangerous to sail in those regions.

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest suppliers of seafarers’ labor, accounting for nearly a fifth of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers, according to the International Labour Organization.