OFW hostages held by Houthi able to contact families - DMW, DFA

The 17 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) held hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen were able to talk to their families, according to a 24 Oras report on Thursday.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured the OFW’s families that their loved ones were currently safe and that negotiations are underway for the safe release and repatriation of the OFWs.

The Yemen-based Houthi hijacked the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in support of Hamas in its war against Israel on November 19 and held hostage the ship’s crew members, which included the 17 Filipinos.

"Nababahala tayo dito. This is not the first time na may na-hostage na ganyan. Meron itong koneksiyon sa giyera ngayon sa Hamas at Israel dahil tinarget nila itong bapor na ito dahil Israeli-owned daw although Japanese 'yung company," DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said.

(We are concerned. This is not the first time hostages were taken like this. This is in connection with the war between Hamas and Israel because they targeted a ship that was said to be Israeli-owned although the company that owns it is Japanese.)

He also added that while the release of the OFWs was certain, there was no assurance of when this would occur.

“We can promise that they’re okay, because they’ve been able to contact their families. The Houthis are adamant [right] now that [it is] not about money. They just want the Israeli operations against Gaza to end,” said de Vega. —RF, GMA Integrated News