Marcos: M/V Galaxy Leader Pinoy crew members released

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that the 17 Filipino seafarers and other crew members of M/V Galaxy Leader commercial ship have been safely released.

“Our Filipino seafarers are now in the care of our Philippine Embassy in Muscat, Oman and will be reunited with their loved ones in the Philippines very soon,” Marcos said in a statement.

To recall, the vessel was seized by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis in November 2023.

Marcos, meanwhile, thanked His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, and his entire administration for their successful mediation, which led to the eventual release and safe passage of the Filipino seafarers and the rest of the crew members.

“I commend the concerned Philippine government agencies and private instrumentalities who worked tirelessly with foreign governments and entities for more than 429 days in making this momentous development possible,” Marcos said.

 

 

The Bahamas flagged car carrier was taken to the port of Hodeidah in the Houthi-controlled north of Yemen after being boarded at sea on November 19, 2023 by commandos with the group.

The vessel's crew was made up of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania, Galaxy Maritime said. It was chartered by Japan's Nippon Yusen.

Amid this development, Marcos highlighted the importance of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers in ensuring the seafarers’ welfare.

 

 

“This is to protect their rights and overall welfare, to promote their full employment and to ensure equal opportunities  in the maritime industry—regardless of gender or creed—including equitable access to education, training and development, consistent with existing domestic and international laws, standards and conventions, Marcos said. 

In September of last year, Marcos signed the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, a priority measure of his administration.

The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers institutionalizes the protection of Filipino seafarers’ rights. It will also serve as a guarantee to the international community that the Philippines will comply with its obligations to international conventions.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), meanwhile, is now working on the repatriation of the 17 Filipino seafarers.

"The Department is working on their immediate repatriation to Manila so that they could reunite with their long-suffering families as soon as possible," the DFA said in a statement.

"Our successful efforts despite all the challenges prove that quiet diplomacy works. The men and women of the Department of Foreign Affairs will remain true to our calling to serve our country and people," it added.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News