DFA: 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage in Red Sea to be released ‘eventually’

Efforts are being done for the eventual release of the 17 Filipino seafarers who were among the hostages in the seized cargo ship in the Red Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza also said that the seafarers held captive by Yemen's rebel group Houthi remain in “good condition.”

“Government sources say that the hostages are in good condition, and will eventually be released. Efforts are ongoing for this to happen as soon as possible,” she said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday canceled his trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates supposedly to attend the COP28, citing "important developments" in the hostage situation involving the Filipino seafarers.

"Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, with the aim of providing necessary assistance to our seafarers," he said.

Last week, DFA announced that the 17 Filipino seafarers were among the foreigners held hostage when the Houthis seized a ship in the southern Red Sea.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega earlier said that there have been instances before that Filipino seafarers were taken in Yemen and all of them were eventually released.

The Houthis, an ally of Iran, have been launching long-range missile and drone salvoes at Israel in solidarity with the Hamas militants fighting in the Gaza Strip.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News