8 of 21 PH crew members on MV Eternity C rescued; others still missing

Eight of the 21 Filipino crew members of a commercial vessel that was recently attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea have been rescued, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported Thursday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview on Thursday, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said three more Filipino seafarers of the MV Eternity C were found during rescue operations, bringing to eight the number of Philippine mariners who are deemed safe.

Cacdac, however, said the other 13 Filipino sailors are remain unaccounted, and that as many as four deaths from the Houthi attack still need to be verified. The Department of Foreign Affairs had said two Filipino seafarers were "most likely" killed in the incident.

"Walo na ang naligtas and we're hoping na magpatuloy lang itong pagkakahanap ng ating mga kababayan. Twenty one sila, 13 [ang hinahanap]… Andoon pa rin 'yung search operations and ang inaasaan natin 'pag nakumpleto 'yung search operations, saka lalakad 'yung rescue boat toward safer ground," he shared.

(Eight are now safe and we're hoping that we will continue to find our countrymen. There are 21 of them, [we are still looking for the remaining] 13… Search operations are still there and we are hoping that the rescue boat will proceed towards safer ground once search operations are complete.)

The deaths on the Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged and Greek-operated bulk carrier, are the first involving shipping in the Red Sea since June 2024. The attacks were launched by drone and speedboat off Yemen, Reuters earlier reported.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it was still in the process of verifying the whereabouts of all 21 Filipino crew members.

"The DFA is ascertaining the facts regarding the condition and whereabouts of our seafarers," the agency said in a statement.

"This is an all-of-government approach involving not just agencies such as the Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, but our Foreign Service Posts in the region, acting in accordance with the One-Country Team Approach."

The DFA said it would provide regular updates and stressed that it was exerting all diplomatic efforts "to comply with the long-standing presidential directive to safeguard the welfare of all Filipino seafarers plying the world's sea lanes."

According to a 24 Oras report by JP Soriano on  Thursday, the DMW said it is trying to confirm reports that the missing Filipino seafarers onboard MV Eternity C are being held captive by the Houthis. 

DMW said that the information came from the Houthis themselves.

“We’ve yet to confirm for ourselves whether indeed the Houthis have the rest of the crew. This is something that is yet subject to confirmation and we are working closely with Sec. Tess Lazaro and the [Department of Foreign Affairs] along these lines,” said Cacdac.

Cacdac said that the agency is now in contact with their families and the shipowner of MV Eternity C.

 Red Sea passage

Meanwhile, Cacdac expressed belief that the attack on the MV Eternity C in the Red Sea could have been prevented.

"May tama namang oras kung kailan bubusisiin [ang dahilan], pero ang preliminary findings ay puwedeng naiwasan [ang attack]. Iwasan ang pagdaan sa Red Sea, Gulf of Aden. Karamihan naman ang barko na umiwas na, nandoon sila sa Horn of Africa dumadaan, kaya lang may mga nagpipilit na dumaan doon… Kaya ang sinasabi natin sa mga magpipilit na dumaan doon mag-divert na po kayo, o kaya kung tutuloy niyo man huwag na magsakay ng Pilipino sa barko," he said.

(There is a right time to scrutinize the cause, but our preliminary findings show that it could have been avoided. Avoid passing through the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden. Most vessels avoid it and pass through the Horn of Africa, but there are some who still insist on passing through there… That is why we are telling those who insist on doing this to just divert, or if you will proceed, then don't bring Filipinos on your ship.)

Ship owners have freedom of navigation or the right to choose the paths of their ships, Cacdac said, but seafarers also have rights to refuse sailing.

"We are mindful of the fact na may hangganan itong kalayaan na ito kapag safety. Basic naman 'yan kapag safety ng number 1 priority is the safety of the human resources of a shipping company such as the seafarers. So talagang dapat pangatawanan ito ng ship owners," he said.

(We are mindful of the fact that there is a limit to this freedom when safety is involved. It's basic that safety is the number 1 priority; the safety of the human resources of a shipping company such as the seafarers. This should really be embodied by the ship owners.)

"Unang-una ang right to refuse sailing, pinadali na natin dito sa DMW. May form 'yan na i-download na lang, file na lang ng marino. I-download niya for himself sa DMW website or ang manning agency dapat mag-supply niyan. Kada daan sa Red Sea, dapat pinamahaginan niya ang form na 'yan, kung hindi violation 'yan," he said.

(First of all, the right to refuse sailing had been made easy by the DMW. There is now a form that you just need to download and file. He can download for himself from the DMW website or the manning agency can supply it. Every time they pass through the Red Sea, they should distribute this form or else it is a violation.)

Cacdac added that seafarers who refuse to sail are entitled to two months of wages, free repatriation, and non-discrimination for future opportunities. 

The Eternity's crew included 22 seamen—21 Filipinos and a Russian. 

A three-member security team was also aboard the vessel when it was attacked Monday. Those previously rescued were five Filipinos and one Indian.

The Philippines is one of the world's largest providers of shipping manpower.

A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20% of the world's 1.2 million sailors man oil tankers, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to attacks, piracy and ransom kidnappings. — with a report from Michaela del Callar/ VDV/RF, GMA Integrated News